The efficacy of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in improving oxidative, inflammatory and mood status in women with episodic migraine in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Rezaei Kelishadi, Mahnaz; Alavi Naeini, Amirmansour; Askari, Gholamreza; Khorvash, Fariborz; Heidari, Zahra

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.