In a retrospective review of the medical records of 195 consecutive patients who sought treatment for sore, burning mouth, treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg/d in divided doses) was found to benefit 35% of patients. Of the 195 patients whose records were reviewed, 35 patients were available for follow-up, out of which 31 took the alpha-lipoic acid supplements as recommended. Of these 31 patients, 11 reported some benefit as a result of taking alpha-lipoic acid. Six subjects (19%) felt 'mostly better,' five (16%) felt 'somewhat better,' fourteen (45%) reported no difference, four (13%) did not know if there had been improvement, and two (7%) reported a worsening of symptoms. The authors conclude, "Because we examined only a small number of patients and relied on a subjective outcome assessment, further larger studies using a prospective, randomized, controlled, and double-blind structure are warranted."
