THE EFFECT OF GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID ON HUMAN DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY - A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Twenty‐two patients with distal diabetic polyneuropathy confirmed both clinically and by objective nerve function studies, completed a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with γ‐linolenic acid on their neuropathy. Patients received either 360 mg γ‐linolenic acid (12 patients) or indistinguishable placebo capsules (10 patients) for 6 months. All patients were assessed at the beginning and end of the study period by neuropathy symptom and sign scoring, motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, and thermal threshold measurements. When compared with the placebo group, patients on γ‐linolenic acid showed statistically significant improvement in neuropathy symptom scores (p < 0.001), median nerve motor conduction velocity (p < 0.01) and compound muscle action potential amplitude (p < 0.01), peroneal nerve motor conduction velocity (p < 0.05) and compound muscle action potential amplitude (p < 0.05), median (p < 0.01) and sural (p < 0.001) sensory nerve action potential amplitude and ankle heat threshold (p < 0.001) and cold threshold (p < 0.01) values. γ‐Linolenic acid therapy might have a useful role in the prevention and treatment of distal diabetic polyneuropathy. 1990 Diabetes UK