Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in β-Thalassemia Major Patients: A Clinical Trial Crossover Study

Abstract

Khadijeh Jamshidi,1 Hadi Abdollahzad,2 Mostafa Nachvak,2 Mansour Rezaei,3 Mohammad Reza Golpayegani,4 Elham Sharifi Zahabi5 1The Student Research Committee, School of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Nutritional Sciences Department, School of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 3Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 4Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Imam Khomeini Comprehensive Health Services Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranCorrespondence: Hadi AbdollahzadResearch Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranTel [phone]Email [email protected]: Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic diseases, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been considered as the leading cause of mortality in more than 50% of β-thalassemia patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on CVD risk factors in β-thalassemia major patients.Methods: Twenty β-thalassemia major patients participated in this randomized crossover clinical trial study. Participants were randomly assigned to ALA (600 mg/day) or placebo groups for two 8-wk interventions that were separated by a 3-wk washout period. The CVD risk factors including serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), homocysteine, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and trimethylamine N-oxide were measured at the beginning and the end of each intervention phase according to the standard protocol.Results: Serum OPG reduced significantly in the ALA group in all participants (5.38 ± 2.79 to 3.27 ± 2.43 ng/mL, P= .003) and in the male subgroup (5.24 ± 2.56 to 3.13 ± 2.5 ng/mL, P= .015); this reduction was significant in comparison with the placebo group (P= .013). The changes in other CVD risk factors were not significant.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that after 8-wk of ALA consumption, the serum OPG reduced significantly in β-thalassemia major patients. Therefore, controlling the serum OPG level with ALA consumption can be an important complementary therapeutic option to prevent the progression of CVD in β-thalassemia major patients.Keywords: β-thalassemia major, alpha-lipoic acid, CVD risk factors

Keywords

• β-thalassemia major
• alpha-lipoic acid
• cvd risk factors.