In a study involving rats induced with diabetes (via streptozotocin), administration of alpha-lipoic acid (30 mg/day) in the diet was found to delay the development and progression of diabetic cataract. Rats were divided into three groups. One group served as a control group, a second group was induced with diabetes and received no treatment, and a third group induced with diabetes was treated with alpha-lipoic acid. Results found that five weeks after diabetes was induced, the rats given alpha-lipoic acid were found to have an increase in lens light scattering compared to the rats who did not receive supplementation with ALA. Rats induced with diabetes had the highest blood glucose levels, and control rats had the lowest blood glucose levels. These results suggest that alpha-lipoic acid may be a promising agent in the prevention and treatment of diabetic cataract. Additional research is warranted.
