Evidence supporting the use of: Lipoic Acid
For the health condition: Neuralgia and Neuritis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Lipoic acid (also known as alpha-lipoic acid or ALA) has scientific evidence supporting its use in the management of neuralgia and neuritis, particularly in the context of diabetic neuropathy, a form of nerve pain and inflammation. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that intravenous and, to a lesser extent, oral lipoic acid can reduce neuropathic symptoms such as pain, paresthesia, and numbness in patients with diabetic neuropathy. The proposed mechanism involves ALA’s potent antioxidant properties, which help reduce oxidative stress implicated in nerve damage. A 2006 meta-analysis published in Diabetes Care (Ziegler et al.) found that intravenous lipoic acid (600 mg/day for 3 weeks) significantly reduced neuropathic symptoms compared to placebo. Oral administration has shown benefits, though the effect size is less robust and longer treatment durations are typically required.

While most of the evidence is specific to diabetic neuropathy (a form of neuralgia/neuritis), there is limited but emerging evidence for its use in other types of neuralgia. However, high-quality studies outside diabetic neuropathy are sparse. Lipoic acid is generally considered safe with few side effects. In summary, lipoic acid use for neuralgia and neuritis is supported by moderate scientific evidence, especially in diabetic neuropathy, but further research is needed for other neuropathic conditions.

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