title: Alpha lipoic acid efficacy in burning mouth syndrome. A controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and determine the statistical significance of the outcome variables. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as an oral burning sensation in the absence of clinical signs which could justify the syndrome. Recent studies suggest the existence of neurological factors as a possible cause of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients with BMS, in two groups: case group with 600 mg/day and placebo as control group; with follow up of 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  64% of ALA patients reported some level of improvement, with a level of maintenance of 68.75% one month after treatment. 27.6% of the placebo group also demonstrated some reduction in BMS symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term evolution and the intensity of symptoms are variables that reduce the probability of improvement with ALA treatment.
authors.affiliation: LAML. Centro de Salud Buenavista, Av Irlanda s/n, 45003 Toledo, Spain, lamoreno@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palacios-Sánchez
authors.forename: Luis-Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno-López
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerero-Lapiedra
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llamas-Martínez
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esparza-Gómez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008063:Thioctic Acid