Alpha Lipoic Acid for Peripheral Neuropathy

A 2020 study found that 600mg of alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant) taken twice daily was significantly more effective than placebo at treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy over 6 months. Other studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid, in combination with the medication ipidacrine hydrochloride, may prevent peripheral neuropathy caused by a type of chemotherapy. Alpha lipoic acid may cause nausea among other side effects.

El-Nahas MR, Elkannishy G, Abdelhafez H, Elkhamisy ET, El-Sehrawy AA. Oral Alpha Lipoic Acid Treatment for Symptomatic Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2020;20(9):1531-1534. doi: 10.2174/1871530320666200506081407. PMID: 32370731.

Holotiuk IS, Kryzhanivska AY, Holotiuk SI, Holotiuk VV, Maliborska SV. EFFECTIVENESS OF ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID AND IPIDACRINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN PREVENTION OF PACLITAXEL-INDUCED PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY ASSESSED BY ELECTRONEUROMYOGRAPHY OF SUPERFICIAL PERONEAL AND SURAL NERVES. Exp Oncol. 2022 Dec;44(4):300-306. doi: 10.32471/exp-oncology.2312-8852.vol-44-no-4.19030. PMID: 36811539.

Holotiuk I, Kryzhanivska A, Holotiuk S, Teren T, Hirna H. PREVENTION OF PACLITAXEL-INDUCED MOTOR NEUROPATHY OF FIBULAR AND TIBIAL NERVES WITH ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID AND IPIDACRIN HYDROCHLORIDE IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS. Exp Oncol. 2025 Oct 7;47(2):230-237. doi: 10.15407/exp-oncology.2025.02.230. PMID: 41058457.