Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of α-lipoic acid in the treatment of aged type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with acute cerebral infarction.
Patients and methods: 90 patients were randomly divided into two groups, on the basis of conventional treatment. The experiment group was administrated with α-lipoic acid, while only Vitamin C for the control group, for 3 consecutive weeks. Before and after the experiment, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured and scored with the NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), and the changes of blood glucose, insulin function and other indicators were observed.
Results: After the treatment, the plasma SOD and GSH-Px levels increased, while MDA decreased (p < 0.05), with statistical significance when compared with the control group (p < 0.01). NIHSS score, blood glucose, blood lipids and HOMA-IA of the experiment group decreased significantly (p < 0.01); and no significant adverse reactions were found in both groups.
Conclusions: α-lipoic acid was safe and effective in the treatment of aged T2DM complicated with acute cerebral infarction, significantly reducing the patient's oxidative stress, blood glucose and lipid levels and being able to improve islet function.