ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 2015 September;65(3):71-6

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Alfa-lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase for the treatment of subjective chronic idiopathic tinnitus: a pilot study

Ciorba A., Iannini V., Soliani M., Tosin E., Aimoni C., Mazzoli M., Pastore A.

Clinica ORL‑Audiologia, Arcispedale S. Anna, Ferrara, Italia

AIM: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects α-lipoic acid (ALA) (600 mg) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (140 IU), ALA600 SOD, for the treatment of subjective chronic idiopathic tinnitus.
METHODS: Prospective study including 18 patients affected by chronic idiopathic subjective tinnitus. All patients have been studied by history taking, pure tonal and vocal audiometry, tympanometry, classic and Feldmann acufenometry, auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emission, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and VAS scales for assessing tinnitus loudness and annoyance, before and after treatment. All patients also underwent brain MRI to exclude retrococlear pathology. The treatment consisted of one tablet a day (ALA600 SOD) for two consecutive months.
RESULTS: Tinnitus was bilateral in 55% of patients, unilateral in 45%; in 72% continuous and 28% intermittent. The comparison between the mean values, pre- and post-treatment, of the VAS loudness and annoyance was not significant at T Wilcoxon Test. Nonetheless, the THI questionnaire score was on average 24.8 (mild tinnitus) at first examination, while at post treatment the average score was 21.7, with significant improvement according to the Wilcoxon t test (P=0.025).
CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study show a slight improvement in the perception of the intensity of tinnitus and quality of life, in patients affected by subjective chronic idiopathic tinnitus, after supplementation with ALA600 SOD.