RalaPure R-Alpha Lipoic Acid - Medications for Burning Mouth Syndrome

About 1.3 million American adults, mostly postmenopausal women, are afflicted with Burning Mouth Syndrome, a chronic often debilitating condition whose cause remains a medical mystery.
Burning Mouth Syndrome Study: Controlled Open Trial of the Efficacy of Alpha-Lipoic Acid (Thioctic Acid) on Symptomatology
Femiano F, Gombos F, Scully C, Busciolano M, Luca PD. - Stomatology Clinic II, University of Medicine and Surgery, Napoli, Italy.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), is a potent antioxidant mitochondrial coenzyme, the trometamol salt of thioctic acid that has been shown in clinical studies to be neuroprotective. This study examined the effect of ALA on the symptomatology of Burning mouth syndrome (BMS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with BMS and no clinical or laboratory evidence of organic oral disease were divided into two groups (Test and Control) each of 21 subjects, matched for age and sex. The Test group were given ALA (thioctic acid; Tiobec) for 30 days, as 600 mg per day orally for 20 days followed by 200 mg per day for 10 days. The Control group were given cellulose starch 100 mg per day as placebo for 30 days. All BMS patients were reviewed at 10- day intervals and scored for changes in symptomatology. RESULTS: Significant improvements were shown in the symptomatology of BMS in up to two-thirds of patients with BMS receiving alpha-lipoic acid, in about 15% of those using placebo and also in up to two-thirds of those who, having tried placebo, were switched to ALA. We have examined the effects on 4 groups of 20 patients with BMS of ALA, compared with bethanecol, Biotene and placebo, and found ALA of remarkable benefit with minimal adverse effects.
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.