In patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the combined use of probucol and mecobalamin tablets is considerably effective in minimizing oxidative stress, says a prospective trial published in "Neuroscience Letters". Researchers explored the impact of the combination of tablets on oxidative stress in 104 subjects having diabetic peripheral neuropathy that were segregated into either combination group (n = 52) or control group (n = 52).

For three months, all the subjects took mecobalamin tablets after meals. Based on this, individuals in the combination group were given probucol for about three months. The Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS) (symptom, sensory, and reflex scores), adverse reactions, clinical efficacy, oxidative stress indicators [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA)], and nerve conduction velocity [sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the common peroneal and median nerve] were the observation indicators.

No considerable differences in scores (symptom, sensory, reflex, and total) were witnessed between the groups prior to therapy. After treatment, these scores decreased in the combination group vs. the control group. After treatment, the scores in both the groups were decreased when compared with before treatment.

No vital differences in the nerve conduction velocity (SNCV and NMCV) were noted between the groups prior to therapy. However, the indicators of the combination group were greater than the control group after therapy. These indicators of both the groups after treatment were greater than prior to therapy.

No vital differences in SOD, MDA, GSH-Px, CAT were noted between the two groups before therapy. Following therapy, the CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px were considerably greater while MDA was remarkably lower in the combination group when compared to the control group. After therapy, the CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px in both the groups were remarkably greater while the MDA was lower in comparison with before treatment.

In comparison with the control group, the clinical efficacy of the combination group was much better after therapy. No substantial differences were noted in the occurrence of total adverse reactions between the groups, as shown below:

Thus, in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients, the combined use of probucol and mecobalamin tablets can reduce the TCSS scores, restore neurological symptoms, sensations, and reflexes, raise nerve transmission speed, and minimize oxidative stress.