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Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid against diabetic cataract in rat
Masami Kojima1, Li Sun, Ikuho Hata
1Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan. m-kojima@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Purpose:
alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) is well known as a powerful antioxidant. The efficacy of dihydrolipoate-LA for oral administration against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cataract in rat was investigated.
Methods:
Rats were divided into three groups, control, diabetes mellitus (DM), and DM treated with LA (DM+LA). Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg STZ. DM+LA rats were fed 30 mg/rat per day LA in their diet. Lens changes were assessed using Scheimpflug images (EAS-1000) and by measuring light-scattering intensity.
Results:
Increase in lens light scattering was less (P < 0.05) in DM+LA rats than in DM rats 5 weeks after induction of diabetes. DM rats had the highest and control rats the lowest blood glucose levels at every measurement point up to 111 days (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
LA treatment delayed development and progression of cataract in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
