Efficacy of alpha lipoic acid in burning mouth syndrome: a randomized, placebo-treatment study

Efficacy of alpha lipoic acid in burning mouth syndrome: a randomized, placebo-treatment study
To study the efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in a group of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Sixty BMS patients, 30 treated with ALA (Thioderm((R))) 800 mg day(-1) for 8 weeks and 30 patients on the same protocol with a placebo. The symptomatology was measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Sixty patients (54 females and 6 males, mean age 64.37 +/- 11.61 years) were included. Thirty-nine patients completed the treatment (23 with ALA and 16 with a placebo). Reviews were carried out at 0, 1 and 2 months. No statistically significant differences were found in the average pre- and post-treatment values for pain with the VAS scores, obtained in the placebo (6.6 +/- 2.5 - 2.8 +/- 25 = 3.8 +/- 3.7) versus ALA (6.3 +/- 2.8 - 4.0 +/- 2.7 = 2.2 +/- 2.6). Only one patient pertaining to the group treated with ALA abandoned because of adverse gastrointestinal side effects. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups.

2008 Oct 18
López-Jornet P, Camacho-Alonso F, Leon-Espinosa S.
J Oral Rehabil.