Alpha lipoic acid in burning mouth syndrome--a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

The burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition characterized by oral burning pain in the absence of clinical abnormalities and without established therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in the management of BMS symptoms through a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

METHODS:

Thirty-eight patients (34 women and four men, median age 62.9 years, range 36-78) were included and 31 completed the study. The patients were randomized into two cycles of treatment: one with alpha lipoic acid and one with placebo both administered in identical capsules. These cycles were separated by a washout period of 20 days. The oral symptoms and the treatment response were assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale before and after each cycle and the global perceived effect score, using a 5-point scale after each treatment cycle.

RESULTS:

The level of reduction on burning was significant for both treatments (paired t-test: P < 0.05; rp = 0.011; ral < 0.001). Considering the two cycles together, 22 patients reported at least some improvement after ALA use and 23 patients after placebo.

CONCLUSIONS:

Comparison of the oral assessment scores of the two cycles failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ALA over placebo (t-test: P > 0.05; r = 0.75).

• Authors: Desirée Rosa Cavalcanti, Fernando Ricardo Xavier da Silveira
• Journal: Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (J Oral Pathol Med) Vol. 38 Issue 3 Pg. 254-61 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1600-0714 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 19175713 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Thioctic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antioxidants (therapeutic use)
• Burning Mouth Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Thioctic Acid (therapeutic use)