Objective To investigate the effects and safety of antioxidants lipoic acid on diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods Fifty four patients with DPN were randomly divided into treatment group(32 cases) and control group(22 cases).Both two groups were based on the control of diet and blood glucose and treated with mecobalamin and alprostadil.The treatment group were treated with lipoic acid(600 mg) for consecutive 3 weeks.All patients were evaluated with neuropathy curative effect and nerve conduction velocity.Results The total effective rate of treatment group was 90.6%,and 68.2% of control group,there was a significant difference between the two groups(P 0.05).Meanwhile,nerve conduction velocity also had improved,especially obviously in the treatment group(P 0.01).Conclusion The treatment of antioxidants lipoic acid on diabetic peripheral neuropathy has affirmative effects,and thus pave a new way to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy comprehensively.