In:
American Journal of Nephrology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 27, No. 1 ( 2007), p. 70-74
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Background/Aim: 〈 /i 〉 Endothelial dysfunction due to reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability precedes the development of atherosclerosis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase, is not only a cause of endothelial dysfunction, but also a predictor of the cardiovascular outcome in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD). α-Lipoic acid (ALA), a strong antioxidant, increases NO-mediated vasodilation in diabetic patients. We investigated whether ALA could decrease the plasma level of ADMA in diabetic ESRD patients on HD. 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 Fifty patients undergoing HD three times per week were randomized to a treatment group receiving ALA 600 mg/day for 12 weeks or a control group. We measured the plasma levels of cholesterol, albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin A 〈 sub 〉 1c 〈 /sub 〉 , and ADMA in both groups at baseline and at 12 weeks. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 In the control group, the levels of total cholesterol, serum albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin A 〈 sub 〉 1c 〈 /sub 〉 , and ADMA did not change. In the treatment group, the plasma levels of ADMA decreased significantly from a median of 1.68 (range 0.45–3.78) µ 〈 i 〉 M 〈 /i 〉 to a median of 1.31 (range 0.25–3.19) µ 〈 i 〉 M 〈 /i 〉 (p = 0.001). 〈 i 〉 Conclusion: 〈 /i 〉 Considering that ADMA is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular outcome in ESRD patients, ALA may have the potential of a beneficial effect in them, in part by decreasing the plasma level of ADMA.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0250-8095
,
1421-9670
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2007
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1468523-1
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