Abstract
Aim:
Migraine is a common neurovascular disorder, which is associated with severe to moderate disabling headaches. Oxidative stress and inflammation might play a role in migraine pathogenesis and the mood disorders. Considering the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), this study was designed to investigate its effect on oxidative, inflammatory and mood conditions in women with episodic migraine.
Methods:
In total 92 women with episodic migraine participated in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, receiving a 300 mg capsule of ALA or placebo twice daily for 3 months. To assess the oxidative and inflammatory status, the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress index (OSI) and C - reactive protein (CRP) were determined at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. A depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21-items) questionnaire was used to evaluate mood status.
Results:
Finally, 79 patients reached the final analysis stage. At the end of the intervention, a significant decrease in the serum levels of MDA (means difference (MD): -0.83, 95% confidence intervals (CI): -1.04,-0.62 nmol/ml vs MD: -0.32, CI: -0.48,-0.15 nmol/ml; P <0.001) and CRP (MD:-0.78, CI: -1.17,-0.39 mg/L vs MD:-0.63, CI: -1.80,0.52 mg/L; P <0.001) was observed in the ALA as compared with the placebo group. But changes in serum GSH (P=0.086), TAC (P=0.068), TOS (P=0.225), and OSI (P=0.404) were not statistically significant. In addition, depression, anxiety, and stress (with p<0.001, in all cases) had significantly decreased in the intervention as compared with the control group.
Conclusion:
The results of this study suggest that ALA supplementation for 3 months has beneficial effects on improving the oxidative, inflammatory and mood conditions of patients suffering from episodic migraine.
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