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Modulatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) administration on insulin sensitivity in obese PCOS patients

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) administration on hormonal and metabolic parameters of obese PCOS patients.

Methods

A group of 32 obese PCOS patients were selected after informed consent. 20 patients referred to have first grade relatives with diabetes type I or II. Hormonal and metabolic parameters as well as OGTT were evaluated before and after 12 weeks of ALA integrative administration (400 mg per os every day).

Results

ALA administration significantly decreased insulin, glucose, BMI and HOMA index. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin response to OGTT decreased both as maximal response (Δmax) and as AUC. PCOS with diabetes relatives showed the decrease also of triglyceride and GOT. Interestingly in all PCOS no changes occurred on all hormonal parameters involved in reproduction such as LH, FSH, and androstenedione.

Conclusions

ALA integrative administration at a low dosage as 400 mg daily improved the metabolic impairment of all PCOS patients especially in those PCOS with familiar diabetes who have a higher grade of risk of NAFLD and predisposition to diabetes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecological Endocrinology Center, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100, Modena, Italy

    A. D. Genazzani, K. Shefer, D. Della Casa, A. Prati, A. Napolitano, A. Manzo & G. Despini

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    T. Simoncini

Authors
  1. A. D. Genazzani
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  2. K. Shefer
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  3. D. Della Casa
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  4. A. Prati
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  5. A. Napolitano
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  6. A. Manzo
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  7. G. Despini
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  8. T. Simoncini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. D. Genazzani.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients participating in the study.

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Genazzani, A.D., Shefer, K., Della Casa, D. et al. Modulatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) administration on insulin sensitivity in obese PCOS patients. J Endocrinol Invest 41, 583–590 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0782-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-017-0782-z

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