Effect of α-Lipoic Acid on Platelet Reactivity in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess whether ALA has any effects on platelet reactivity, oxidative stress, and inflammation in type 1 diabetic patients. We enrolled 51 type 1 diabetic patients without any evidence of cardiovascular disease on full noninvasive clinical investigation, which included the maximal exercise stress test to exclude ischemic heart disease. Patients taking antiplatelet drugs were excluded. After obtaining informed written consent, patients were randomly assigned to receive ALA (600 mg once daily; n = 26) (4,5) or placebo (n = 25) for 5 weeks. The study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the institutional review board of our institution.

Blood samples were drawn at baseline and after treatment in the early morning, before insulin administration, and in a fasting state. Blood was collected in lithium fluoride for plasma glucose estimation, lithium heparin for lipid fraction analysis, and EDTA for hemochrome evaluation. Three milliliters of blood were collected into a tube filled with a 0.129 mol/L (3.8%) trisodium citrate solution (vacuette; Greiner Bio-One, Monroe, NC) and assayed within 1 h. An aliquot of 800 μL was used to assess platelet reactivity to collagen/ADP by the PFA-100 method (Dade Behring, Milan, Italy), in which a shorter closure time indicates a greater platelet aggregability (9,10). Another aliquot was used within 10 min of collection to prepare samples for flow cytometry analyses (FACScan; Becton Dickinson). Blood aliquots were incubated with ADP (final concentration 10⁻⁷ mol/L) and with saturating concentrations of the fluorescein isothiocyanate–conjugated CD41 (GP IIb) and phycoethrin-conjugated CD62 (P-selectin) monoclonal antibodies (Becton Dickinson, Milan, Italy) (11,12).

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by immunonephelometric assay (N Latex CRP mono; Dade Behring, Manburg, Germany). Serum 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α levels were measured by a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (OxiSelect 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α; Cell Biolabs, San Diego, CA) (13), with the results expressed as natural logarithm of values.

Continuous and categorical variables were compared by the unpaired t test and Fisher exact test, respectively. Within-group changes were assessed by the paired t test. SPSS version 17.0 statistical software was used for analysis. Data are reported as means ± SD. A P < 0.05 was required for statistical significance.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, and in the main clinical and laboratory parameters (Supplementary Table 1). Drug therapy also was similar in the two groups and remained unchanged during the period of the study.

Data of platelet reactivity are summarized in Table 1. Before treatment, there were no differences between the two groups in closure time value and flow cytometry variables. After 5 weeks of treatment, closure time was longer in the ALA group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.006) as a result of a significant prolongation, compared with the pretreatment value, in the former (P < 0.001) but not in the latter group.

CD41 platelet expression did not differ between the two groups at baseline and after ADP stimulation, both before and after treatment; however, there was a significant difference in CD41 changes, both at baseline and in response to ADP, between the two groups as a result of a significant reduction in the ALA group but not in the placebo group (Supplementary Table 2). CD62P platelet expression, on the other hand, was significantly lower in the ALA group compared with the placebo group, both before (P = 0.002) and after (P = 0.009) ADP stimulation, also showing a significant reduction after treatment in the ALA group (P < 0.001 for all) but not in the placebo group (Supplementary Table 2). CRP and serum 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α levels did not differ between the two groups before and after treatment, showing no changes, compared with pretreatment values, in either group.

Our study shows, for the first time, that 5-week treatment with ALA reduced platelet activation in type 1 diabetic subjects. We failed, however, to find any effect on oxidative state, as assessed by changes in 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α plasma levels after 5 weeks of treatment, suggesting that the effect on platelet function of ALA did not depend on oxidative stress. Why we failed to find evidence of the antioxidant effect of ALA is not clear. 8-Iso-prostaglandin F2α might not have been the ideal oxidative stress marker; alternatively, ALA might not have significant effects on the oxidative state in vivo, in contrast with the evidence acquired in vitro (6–8). We also did not observe any significant effect by ALA on CRP levels, suggesting that its effect on platelet function also was not related to a reduction of inflammation. Thus, the mechanisms of the antiplatelet property of ALA remain to be elucidated. Of note, a possible direct inhibitory effect on platelet function by ALA, through cyclo-oxygenase-1 inhibition (14), recently has been reported. In conclusion, our data show that ALA may have significant antiplatelet effects; additional studies, however, are needed to elucidate the potential clinical benefit of ALA treatment.

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

R.M., G. Scavone, P.R., E.P.N., A.M., and D.P. performed the patient selection and collected data. F.Z. and G. Scalone analyzed the data and wrote the draft of the manuscript. G.A.L. analyzed the data, approved the final version of the manuscript, and is the guarantor of the article. G.G. and F.C. performed critical review of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.