Evidence mapPaperPMID 40956474Full record

ArticleEndocrine2025

Association between alpha-lipoic acid use and macrovascular complications in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Yongin Cho, Hye-Sun Park, Hye Sun Lee, Hyejin Yang, Da Hea Seo, Seong Hee Ahn, Seongbin Hong, So Hun Kim

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Article in Endocrine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

Yongin Cho *Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, 27, Inhang-ro, Joong-gu, 22332, Incheon, Korea.
Hye-Sun Park *Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hye Sun Lee *Biostatistics Collaboration Unit, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyejin YangBiostatistics Collaboration Unit, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Da Hea SeoDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, 27, Inhang-ro, Joong-gu, 22332, Incheon, Korea.
Seong Hee AhnDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, 27, Inhang-ro, Joong-gu, 22332, Incheon, Korea.
Seongbin HongDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, 27, Inhang-ro, Joong-gu, 22332, Incheon, Korea.
So Hun KimDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, 27, Inhang-ro, Joong-gu, 22332, Incheon, Korea. shoney@inha.ac.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-3664

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAlpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy in some countries. However, its potential impact on macrovascular complications remains unclear. This study examined the association between ALA use and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and mortality in individuals with diabetes.

methodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort data. Participants aged 40–79 years diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy between 2011 and 2015 were followed until December 2019. ALA users were defined as those prescribed ALA for ≥ 6 months. Propensity score matching balanced baseline characteristics, and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the associations between ALA use and myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, diabetic foot ulcer, amputation, CV mortality, and all-cause mortality.

resultsA total of 8,740 participants (4,370 ALA users, 4,370 non-users) were included after matching. Over a median follow-up of 8.0 years, ALA use was associated with a lower risk of MI (hazard ratio [HR] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.98), CV mortality (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.96), and all-cause mortality (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72–0.93), while no significant associations were observed for stroke, diabetic foot ulcer, or amputation. MI risk reduction was more pronounced in those with a high Charlson comorbidity index. In a dose-response analysis of ALA users, a higher cumulative defined daily dose within the first year was significantly associated with a greater reduction in the risks of MI, CV mortality, and all-cause mortality (P for trend = 0.004, 0.011, and < 0.001, respectively).

conclusionALA use was associated with a reduced risk of MI and mortality in a dose-dependent manner. This suggests a potential protective role of ALA against macrovascular complications in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsDiabetic AngiopathiesDiabetic NeuropathiesThioctic AcidAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaRetrospective StudiesAntioxidantsThioctic AcidAntioxidantsDiabetic vascular complicationsThioctic acid

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.