Macdermid Joy C, Vincent Joshua I, Gan Bing S, Grewal Ruby
School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada ; Clinical Research, Hand and Upper Limb Center, St. Joseph's Health Center, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON N6A 4L6 Canada.
Hand (N Y). 2012 Mar;7(1):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s11552-011-9381-1. Epub 2011 Dec 30.
Nutritional supplementation is a potential adjunct in the conservative management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This study investigated whether astaxanthin (a beta-carotenoid) increased the effectiveness of splinting in managing CTS.
This is a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial where 63 patients with electrodiagnostically confirmed CTS were randomly allocated into either the experimental group (n = 32) (astaxanthin-4-mg capsules + splinting) or the control group (n = 31) (placebo + splinting). Medications were taken for 9 weeks followed by a 3-week washout. The primary outcome measure was the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS). Secondary outcome measures in the study included physical impairments, disability, and health status measures. Electrodiagnostic testing was performed before entry into the study and again at 12 weeks. All other outcomes were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks.
There was a reduction in symptoms as measured by the SSS over the course of treatment in both groups (p = 0.002), but no differences between the groups (p = 0.18). The Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and the Short Form 36-item Health Survey showed no effects over time or between treatment groups. The baseline difference between the groups in the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins remained constant over the course of the study. Impairment measures demonstrated no significant changes in grip, dexterity, or sensation.
At present, the role for astaxanthin as an adjunct in conservative management of CTS has not been established.
营养补充是腕管综合征（CTS）保守治疗中的一种潜在辅助手段。本研究调查了虾青素（一种类胡萝卜素）是否能提高夹板固定治疗CTS的效果。
这是一项三盲随机对照试验，63例经电诊断确诊为CTS的患者被随机分为实验组（n = 32）（服用4毫克虾青素胶囊+夹板固定）或对照组（n = 31）（服用安慰剂+夹板固定）。服药9周，随后有3周的洗脱期。主要结局指标是症状严重程度量表（SSS）。该研究的次要结局指标包括身体损伤、残疾和健康状况指标。在进入研究前和12周时再次进行电诊断测试。所有其他结局指标在基线、6周和12周时进行测量。
两组在治疗过程中通过SSS测量的症状均有减轻（p = 0.002），但两组之间无差异（p = 0.18）。手臂、肩部和手部残疾问卷以及简短形式36项健康调查显示，随时间推移或治疗组之间均无影响。在研究过程中，两组之间总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白水平的基线差异保持不变。损伤指标显示握力、灵活性或感觉无显著变化。
目前，虾青素作为CTS保守治疗辅助手段的作用尚未确立。
