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Burning mouth syndrome (BMS): double blind controlled study of alpha‐lipoic acid (thioctic acid) therapy
Author(s) -
Femiano F.,
Scully C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2002.310503.x
Subject(s) - thioctic acid , alpha lipoic acid , lipoic acid , placebo , medicine , antioxidant , oxidative stress , glutathione , alpha (finance) , gastroenterology , pharmacology , endocrinology , surgery , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology , enzyme , alternative medicine , construct validity , patient satisfaction
Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has features of a neuropathy and could be related to the production of the toxic free radicals that are released in stress situations. Alpha‐lipoic acid is an antioxidant able to increase the levels of intracellular glutathione and eliminate free radicals. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of alpha‐lipoic acid in the therapy of BMS. Method: This was a double blind, controlled study conducted for two months on 60 patients with constant BMS. Comparing alpha‐lipoic acid (test) with cellulose starch (placebo), there was no laboratory evidence of deficiencies in iron, vitamins or thyroid function and no hyperglycaemia. Results and Conclusion: Following treatment with alpha‐lipoic acid, there was a significant symptomatic improvement, compared with placebo, with the majority showing at least some improvement after 2 months, thus supporting the hypothesis that burning mouth syndrome is a neuropathy. This improvement was maintained in over 70% of patients at the 1 year follow‐up.