In a randomized double-blind, crossover design, a total of forty people will participate in the research voluntarily: (a) ten people with G6PD (Mediterranean type) enzyme deficiency), (b) ten people with G6PD (Mediterranean type) enzyme deficiency and a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (diabetes, prediabetes), (c) ten people with a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism (diabetes mellitus and prediabetes) and, (d) ten people without any health problem (control group). They will be supplemented with either 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid (experimental condition) or placebo (control condition) every day for 4 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. All participants will be randomly assigned to both conditions.~Before intervention, all participants will be informed about the study protocol, fill a medical history questionnaire and sign an informed consent form. Moreover, measurements of anthropometric characteristics and physiological parameters, as well as a VO2peak test will be performed.~Participants will perform a trial of exercise (70% VO2peak for 45min and 90% till exhaustion) before and after each condition (i.e. a total of 4 trials). Blood samples will be collected before, immediately after and 1 hour after each exercise trial. Moreover, measurements of anthropometric characteristics, physiological and psychological parameters will be performed before and after each condition.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on redox status, physiological and biochemical parameters in diabetic individuals with G6PD deficiency, after acute exercise.