Accumulation of iron is the most common consequences of repeated blood transfusions in β-thalassemia major patients. Iron chelating effects of alpha-lipoic acid have been reported by several studies. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid, as a chelator, on serum iron and hematological indices in these patients.

Twenty-two β-thalassemia major patients were selected to receive 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo capsules for 8 w. After a 3-week washout period, order of intervention was replaced as patients who previously received placebo were administered the supplement vise versa for another 8 w. At the end of the study, changes in serum iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological parameters between the treatments were assessed.

Serum concentrations of iron and total iron binding capacity and hematological parameters did not change within the supplementation (p > 0.05). Changes in iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological indices were not significantly different between the two interventions (p > 0.05). White blood cell counts in placebo use increased significantly in males (p = 0.04). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin in placebo patients decreased significantly in all patients and males (p = 0.02 for both).

Results of this study revealed that alpha-lipoic acid supplementation included no beneficial effects on iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological indices in β-thalassemia major patients. Further studies with more participants and longer times are indispensable.