The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on glucose control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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#antioxidants #blood-glucose #dietary-supplements #homeostasis #humans

The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on glucose control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Akbari et al., 2018 | Metabolism | Meta Analysis

Citation

Akbari Maryam, Ostadmohammadi Vahidreza, ... Asemi Zatollah. The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on glucose control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Metabolism. 2018-Oct;87:56-69. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2018.07.002

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic diseases. METHODS: We searched the following databases till October 2017: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The relevant data were extracted and assessed for quality of the studies according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse variance method and expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by the Cochran Q statistic and I-squared tests (I2). Twenty-four studies were included in the meta-analyses. RESULTS: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that ALA supplementation among patients with metabolic diseases significantly decreased fasting glucose (SMD -0.54; 95% CI, -0.89, -0.19; P = 0.003), insulin (SMD -1.01; 95% CI, -1.70, -0.31; P = 0.006), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (SMD -0.76; 95% CI, -1.15, -0.36; P < 0.001) and hemoglobin A1c (SMD -1.22; 95% CI, -2.01, -0.44; P = 0.002), triglycerides (SMD -0.58; 95% CI, -1.00, -0.16; P = 0.006), total- (SMD -0.64; 95% CI, -1.01, -0.27; P = 0.001), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (SMD -0.44; 95% CI, -0.76, -0.11; P = 0.008). We found no detrimental effect of ALA supplementation on high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) levels (SMD 0.57; 95% CI, -0.14, 1.29; P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ALA administration may lead to an improvement in glucose homeostasis parameters and lipid profiles except HDL-cholesterol levels.

Key Findings

The findings of this meta-analysis showed that ALA supplementation among patients with metabolic diseases significantly decreased fasting glucose (SMD -0.54; 95% CI, -0.89, -0.19; P = 0.003), insulin (SMD -1.01; 95% CI, -1.70, -0.31; P = 0.006), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (SMD -0.76; 95% CI, -1.15, -0.36; P < 0.001) and hemoglobin A1c (SMD -1.22; 95% CI, -2.01, -0.44; P = 0.002), triglycerides (SMD -0.58; 95% CI, -1.00, -0.16; P = 0.006), total- (SMD -0.64; 95% CI, -1.01,

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population metabolic diseases
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Lipids
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Thioctic Acid

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: ALA-diabetes

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09