ESPE Abstracts

Aim: To determine the efficiency of α-lipoic acid in metabolic syndrome treatment in children.

Materials and methods: 44 children with metabolic syndrome are observed. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is made on the base of obesity, arterial hypertension, disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism according to the ATP III (2001) и IDF (2005) recommendations. All patients are randomized into 2 groups: 22 children (main group), who received diet, physical training and α-lipoic acid. The proposed course of therapy lasts for 2 months and the dose of α-lipoic acid is 300–600 mg daily. Second group (22 children) is received diet and physical training. C-peptide is determined using the immunoferment method and insulin resistance index HOMA-IR is calculated using the formula HOMA-IR=G (serum glucose level (mmol/L) × Ins (serum immune reactive insulin) (mcUnits/mL): 22.5; normal – less than 3.5. The rate of leptin and adiponectin is determined by the IFA method using reactives ‘Demeditec Adiponectin IFA DEE009’. Statistic analysis was made using the program Statistika (ver 2009 for Windows), criteria Mann-Whitney, Wilkinson and χ².

Results and discussion: The comparing of insulin resistance indexes is established that after 2 month in children of the main group serum C-peptide decreases from 4.29±1.18 ng/ml to 3.23±0.92 ng/ml (P<0.001), and at 2nd group this index decreases to 4.21±1.15 ng/ml. Insulin resistance index at the 1 group decreased from 4.06±1.14 to 3.41±1.01 (P<0.001), and at the 2nd group to 4.01±1.11. After 2 months treatment with α-lipoic acid the rate of leptin at the main group became 11.02±2.09 ng/ml (P<0.001), and at the 2nd group this index decreases to 18.12±3.11 ng/ml. The rate of adiponectin at the main group became 6.79±1.51, and in the 2nd group – 6.31±1.49 (P>0.001). It should be noted that there is no side effect of α-lipoic acid in children.

Conclusions: Our data confirmed statistically significant reduction in the level of C-peptide, insulin resistance and leptin under the influence of treatment with α-lipoic acid and. It is well tolerated and can be regarded as a pathogenesis factor in the treatment of metabolic syndrome in children.