Effect of Combined Protein Whey and Lipoic Acid on Inflammatory and Antioxidant Markers and Prognosis among Acute Ischemic Patients

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the effect of combined protein whey and lipoic acid on inflammatory and antioxidant markers and prognosis among acute ischemic patients. Methods & Materials: In a clinical trial study, 42 patients with acute ischemic stroke (first turn) were enrolled. All patients were admitted to the Imam Reza Educational Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups. In the control group, the patients received the usual hospital gavage. In the intervention group, patients received 1200 milligrams of lipoic acid with 20 grams of whey protein with usual hospital gavage in midday meal. The level of albumin, IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP and clinical outcomes of patients including NIHSS and MRS initially and 3 weeks later were evaluated and changes in both groups were recorded. Results: There was no significant difference between demographic and baseline variables (P>0.05). The hs-CRP level in the intervention group was significantly reduced (first was 3.84±1.99 μg/ml, the end of the third week was 3.65±1.86 μg/ml, P=0.002), but hs-CRP levels during the study in the control group had no significant difference (first was 3.57±1.55 μg/ml, the end of the third week was 3.46±1.43 μg/ml, P=0.117). Also, the mean of TNF-α level in the intervention group was significantly decreased (first was 20.95±13.11 pg/ml, the end of the third week was 17.56±9.32 pg/ml, P=0.018).