The therapeutic use of ALA in schizophrenia has recently been investigated in human populations. A case series explored the effiacy of ALA as a novel agent to treat antipsychotic-induced obesity, at a dose of 1200 mg/d (range between 600 and 1800 mg/d); reporting the key effect to be a reduction in body weight and BMI after a 12-week treatment. In a pilot open-label trial, 100 mg/d of ALA was administrated as a general adjuvant to antipsychotics therapy, with no significant improvement in BMI, abdominal circumference, blood count, or liver enzymes. Finally, another study investigated the effects of 500 mg/d of ALA on plasma adiponectin levels, fasting glucose, and aspartate aminotransferase activity, with no significant effect on the metabolic parameters. Based on this background, ALA may be a potentially interesting therapeutic agent to improve the metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to assess: (1) the efficacy of ALA on metabolic factors and (2) its safety and potential therapeutic effects in a sample of schizophrenic patients in stable therapy with atypical antipsychotics.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
ALA was administrated in capsules at a xed oral daily dose of 600 mg for the entire duration of the study in addition to the atypical antipsychotic therapy.
University of Messina
Messina, Italy
Assessing the Effect of ALA on the Blood Parameters: Lipid and Carbohydrate Framework
Assessment of metabolic parameters: Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), trigycerides, glucose
Time frame: Assessed from enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks, week 12 reported
Total Score Changes Measured by Positive and Negative Schizophrenic Symptoms Scale (PANSS)
The PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) is a widely used tool for measuring the severity of schizophrenia symptoms. It assesses positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology in individuals with schizophrenia or related disorders. Cut off score of the scale: Total score (range 30-210); severity range: severity ranges: Mild symptoms: \~58-75 Moderate symptoms: \~75-95 Marked symptoms: \~95-116 Severe symptoms: \~116+
Time frame: Assessed from enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks, week 12 reported
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