The Relationship of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid on Mood and Coping Ability in Prediabetic Middle Aged and Older Adults

The Impact of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Supplementation on Redox Balance and Aerobic Capacity

We examined the impact of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and sodium-ferrous-citrate supplementation on aerobic capacity and redox balance through a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Fourteen healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to Pla + ALA (4-week placebo followed by 4-week 5-ALA supplementation) or ALA + Pla (4-week 5-ALA supplement followed by a 4-week placebo) group and administered 5-ALA (25 mg/day) or placebo once daily. The participants underwent submaximal incremental cycling tests at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. In the cycling test at week 0, individual load-intensity stages required for blood lactate levels >2 mmol/L (lactate threshold, LT) and 4 mmol/L (onset of blood lactate accumulation, OBLA) were determined. The heart rate (HR), blood lactate (La), and oxidative stress markers (diacron reactive oxygen metabolite, d-ROMs; biological antioxidant potential, BAP) were measured at resting, LT, and OBLA states in each cycling test. Marker values were not significantly different between the groups. HR, La, and d-ROMs at resting, LT, and OBLA states were not significantly different among the conditions. BAP and BAP/d-ROMs ratios were significantly different in the OBLA state at week 4 of the 5-ALA group compared with that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 5-ALA supplementation might improve redox balance during high-intensity aerobic exercise.

Efficacy and Safety of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid for Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: A Preliminary Study

Purpose

As the concept of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) has gained increased attention, the treatment of eugonadal patients with LOH symptom has become a clinical problem. Previous studies have shown the possible benefits of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on the somatic, psychological and sexual functions. We therefore conducted this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to confirm the efficacy and safety of 5-ALA for LOH symptoms.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-two eugonadal subjects with LOH symptoms were randomly divided into a 5-ALA group (n=15) and a placebo group (n=17). Treatment was continued for 8 weeks. The change of the Aging Males’ Symptoms (AMS) scale score and several biochemical and endocrinological variables during treatment were compared between the groups.

Results

After treatment, the change in the total AMS in the 5-ALA group was significantly greater than that in the placebo group (-7.4±4.7 vs. -4.9±4.9, p=0.029). However, the differences between the groups in the change of the somatic, psychological, and sexual sub-scores of the AMS did not reach the statistical significance, although these changes in the 5-ALA group were greater than those in the placebo group. Furthermore, the change in the biochemical and endocrinological variables in the two groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. During the 8-week treatment period, no patients discontinued 5-ALA due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).

Conclusions

The intake of 5-ALA for 8 weeks was beneficial for eugonadal patients with symptoms of LOH and no severe TEAEs was experienced. 5-ALA should be considered as an option for those patients.

Reduction of fatigue and anger-hostility by the oral administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid phosphate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study

Although large populations feel fatigue, the standardized medicinal therapy is currently absent. In this study, we determined whether 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) supplementation alleviates the feeling of fatigue in healthy subjects who feel chronic physical tiredness. Males and females between ages of 20 and 64 who felt physical fatigue on a daily basis, with a visual analogue scale (VAS) for fatigue ≥ 40 mm, a T-score of Fatigue-Inertia in the Profile of Mood States—Second Edition—Adult (POMS2-A) ≥ 50, and a T-score of Vigor-Activity in POMS2-A ≤ 60 were recruited. Seventy eligible participants were randomly assigned to either a 5-ALA or a placebo group. During the 8 weeks of consumption, the subjects completed VAS questionnaires for fatigue and POMS2-A at 4-week intervals. The VAS values for overall feeling of fatigue and feeling of work-related fatigue, and the Anger-Hostility subscale of POMS2-A were decreased by 5-ALA with significant time × group interaction effects (p = 0.040, 0.020, and 0.045, respectively). Besides, the 5-ALA group showed significant differences in Fatigue-Inertia, Depression-Dejection and Total Mood Disturbance scores, when compared between pre- and post-intervention, while the placebo group did not. In conclusion, the oral administration of 5-ALA improves fatigue and negative mood in subjects who constantly feel physical fatigue.

This clinical trial was registered with University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) as UMIN000031528 on 2/3/2018.