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Antioxidant Supplement May Slow Diabetic Nerve Damage

	June 24, 1999 - A nutritional supplement available
over-the-counter holds promise as a treatment and 
preventative for nerve damage complications faced by people
with advanced diabetes.
	Speaking at the annual conference of the American
Diabetes Association (ADA), Lester Packer of the University
of California said the supplement, called alpha-lipoic acid,
can slow nerve damage experienced by up to 70% of diabetics.
"I recommend it to everyone. This is a treatment that can't
do any damage," said Packer.
	Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that fights
the injuries inflicted by free radicals, unstable molecules
that are byproducts of cell activity. What is unique about
alpha-lipoic acid is that it is both fat and water soluble,
which enhances its ability to trap free radicals. Unlike
other antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid is capable of 
regenerating itself back to its antioxidant form, said Packer,
who is the author of the new book "The Antioxidant Miracle."
	"Protection from free radicals is one of the best
lines of defense for people with diabetes," said Packer.
"In addition to proper diet, regular exercise and doctor-
prescribed medication, diabetes can be successfully managed
through routine supplementation," he said.
	A 1997 report in the journal Diabetes by German
researchers found that diabetics taking 600mg of alpha-lipoic
acid daily had a reduction in nerve-damage related pain and
numbness. Other work by German researchers has shown that
alpha-lipoic acid enhances the action of insulin and
antidiabetic drugs in lowering blood-glucose levels.
	Nerve damage is a serious complication of diabetes.
It is believed to be the consequence of elevated blood-glucose
levels. Nerve damage can affect the heart, eyes, kidneys,
sexual organs, legs and feet. Statistics from the ADA show
that nerve damage is responsible for increasing diabetics'
risk of leg amputations by up to 40 times greater than the
general population. It is also the leading cause of new
blindness among adults and is associated with kidney disease,
which is experienced by 10-21% of diabetics.
	Alpha-lipoic acid is found in tiny quantities in foods
like potatoes, spinach and red meat. To get the benefit of 30mg
of alpha-lipoic acid one would need to consume 10 tons of beef
liver. Packer recommends that healthy people take a daily
supplement of 60mg. The recommended daily dose in Germany for
diabetics suffering from nerve damage is 600mg.