title: The effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in men with chronic spinal cord injury: a clinical trial.
abstract: METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on IL-6, hs-CRP, FBS, anthropometric indices, food intake and blood pressure in male patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight men with chronic SCI participated in the study. Participants were divided in two groups: one group received 600 mg of supplemental ALA (n=28) and the other group received placebo (n=30) for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, biochemical parameters, anthropometric indices, blood pressure and dietary intakes were measured. Dietary intake was measured using N4 software, and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant reduction was found in IL-6 (P=0.97) and hs-CRP levels (P=0.23). There was significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (P=0.001), body weight (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.001), waist circumference (P=0.001) and blood pressure (P=0.001). Dietary intake was significantly reduced, including fat (P=0.001), carbohydrate (P=0.001), protein (P=0.002) and energy intakes (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipoic acid supplementation had no significant effect on the measured inflammatory markers but it reduces fasting blood sugar, anthropometric parameters, food intake and blood pressure in men with chronic SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eghtesadi
authors.affiliation: Drug and Poison Information Center, Research and Development Office, Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Aghababaee
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Injury Repair Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sabour
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Injury Repair Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saberi
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eghtesadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gohari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008063:Thioctic Acid