title: Does lipoic acid consumption affect the cytokine profile in multiple sclerosis patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A limited amount of data exists regarding the effect of lipoic acid (LA), an oral antioxidant supplement, on cytokine profiles among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the effect of daily consumption of LA on the cytokine profiles in MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 52 relapsing-remitting MS patients with an age range of 18-50 years were recruited into 2 groups: LA consumption (1,200 mg/day) or placebo. Patients followed their prescribed supplements for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples for cytokine profile measurement were collected at baseline and after the intervention. Anthropometric parameters were measured based on the standard guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  INF-γ, ICAM-1, TGF-β and IL-4 were significantly reduced in the LA group compared to the placebo group [(INF-γ: 0.82 ± 0.2 vs. 0.2 ± 0.2 pg/ml, p < 0.0001), (ICAM-1: 20.2 ± 9.4 vs. 8 ± 10 ng/ml, p = 0.0001), (TGF-β: 103.1 ± 20.2 vs. 54.9 ± 26 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and (IL-4: 0.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.02 ± 1.7 ng/ml, p = 0.0112)]. No significant changes in TNF-α, IL-6, EDSS and MMP-9 were found between the LA and placebo groups (p = 0.6, p = 0.8, p = 0.09 and p = 0.8, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that consumption of 1,200 mg LA per day beneficially affects several inflammatory cytokines including INF-γ, ICAM-1 TGF-β and IL-4. Further investigations are needed to verify the beneficial role of LA on other cytokine profiles among MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Amirreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azimi
authors.forename: Vajihe
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Izadi
authors.forename: Shahryar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eghtesadi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirshafiey
authors.forename: Mohamad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sahraian
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Motevalian
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norouzi
authors.forename: Meisam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanoobar
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eskandari
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farhoudi
authors.forename: Firouz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D008063:Thioctic Acid