EFFECTS OF Α-LIPOIC ACID COMBINED WITH METHYLCOBALAMIN ON SERUM SERUM HUMAN INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1, HUMAN NERVE GROWTH FACTOR, AND MOTOR AND SENSORY NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITY IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Li Zhang¹, Qin Li², Dehuan Kong^{3, *}

¹Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Province Third Hospital, Jinan, PR China - ²Department of Information Center, Tai’an City Central Hospital, Tai’an, PR China - ³Department of Endocrinology, Taian City Central Hospital, Tai’an, PR China

Objective: To investigate the effects of α-lipoic acid combined with methylcobalamin on serum human insulin-like growth factor-1 (ICF-1), human nerve growth factor (NAF), and motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: Eighty patients with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy treated in our hospital's endocrinology department from June 2017 to October 2018 were selected. These patients were divided into a control group (n = 40) and an observation group (n = 40) according to the random number table method. Once a day for 60 days, the control group was treated with methylcobalamin intravenously, and the observation group was treated with α-lipoic acid intravenously on the basis of the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IGF-1 and NGF levels, and electromyographic analysers were used to detect motor and sensory nerve transmission speed. The clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, IGF-1, NGF levels, and motor and sensory nerve transmission speed differences of the two groups were compared.

Results: After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 97.50 and the control group was 77.50. The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<.05). The levels of serum NGF and IGF-1 in the observation group and the control group were significantly higher than before treatment, and the levels of NGF and IGF-1 in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<.01). The motor and sensory nerve peroneal and median nerve conduction velocities in the observation group and the control group were significantly higher than before treatment, and the motor and sensory nerve peroneal and median nerve conduction speeds in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was 12.50 in the control group and 17.50 in the observation group (p>.05).

Conclusions: There is clinical efficacy in combining α-lipoic acid with mecobalamin in the treatment of DPN. This approach could improve nerve conduction speed and nerve growth factor levels, and it has fewer adverse reactions. It is worthy of application and promotion.