title: The relationship between alanerv(®) consumption and erythrocytes' redox status in post-acute stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stroke is a pathological condition associated with a redox imbalance. Both the acute and the post-acute phases after a stroke are characterized by a pro-oxidant state, which could be corrected through antioxidant supplementation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the ALAnerv(®) upon the redox status of erythrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this pilot study were enrolled 28 post-acute stroke patients. They were randomly divided into a control group [(-) ALA] and a study group [(+) ALA]. Patients were hospitalized for a period of two weeks. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of this period. Patients from (+) ALA group received the nutritional supplement ALAnerv(®). Catalase, SOD, GPx, GRed and GT activities were assessed on erythrocytes' lysates. Also, the total antioxidant capacity as well as the concentration of total thiols were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period only SOD (1393.48 ± 69.14 U/g Hb vs. 1514.06 ± 60.80) and GRed (4.47 ± 0.37 U/g Hb vs. 5.06 ± 0.24) significantly increased in (+) ALA group. Catalase (173.70 ± 14.62 k/g Hb vs. 123.41 ± 8.71) and GT (5.55 ± 0.26 U/g Hb vs. 4.95 ± 0.23) activities significantly decreased during the study period. Multiple regression indicated that only SOD, GT and GRed activities were influenced by the ALAnerv(®) consumption. There was no significant increase if the total thiols concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALAnerv(®) consumption could be associated with a correction of the erythrocytes' redox status. There is a need to investigate if administration of ALAnerv(®) over a longer time period could have a more significant influence on the erythrocytes' antioxidant system.
authors.affiliation: "C.D. Nenitescu" Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Science of Materials, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan Nicolae
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Manolescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cinteza
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berteanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busu
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oprea
keywords: catalase; glutathione reductase; glutathione transferase; lipoic acid; stroke; superoxide dismutase