DLBS1033 as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

Effect of DLBS1033 as Adjunctive Therapy on Changes in Nerve Conduction Study Parameters, Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score, Interleukin-8, Galectin-3, and Quality of Life in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

This study will evaluate the effect of DLBS1033 as adjunctive therapy in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that can cause numbness, tingling, pain, impaired nerve function, and reduced quality of life.

Participants with diabetic neuropathy will be randomly assigned to receive either DLBS1033 plus standard therapy or placebo plus standard therapy. The study will assess changes in nerve conduction study parameters, Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score, interleukin-8, Galectin-3, and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to determine whether DLBS1033 may provide additional benefit as an adjunctive therapy for diabetic neuropathy.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Diabetic Neuropathy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: DLBS1033; Dietary supplement: Placebo

Detailed Description

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and may lead to sensory symptoms, neuropathic pain, impaired peripheral nerve function, and decreased quality of life. Its pathogenesis involves chronic hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired microcirculation of the peripheral nerves. Current pharmacological treatment is mainly directed toward symptom control, while therapies targeting microcirculatory and inflammatory mechanisms remain limited.

DLBS1033 is a standardized bioactive extract derived from Lumbricus rubellus. It has fibrinolytic, fibrinogenolytic, antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on these mechanisms, DLBS1033 may have potential as an adjunctive therapy in diabetic neuropathy by improving microcirculation and modulating inflammatory pathways.

This study is an experimental analytical study with a randomized controlled trial design involving two parallel groups. Eligible patients with diabetic neuropathy at RS H Adam Malik will be recruited consecutively and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group will receive DLBS1033 as adjunctive therapy in addition to standard therapy, while the control group will receive placebo in addition to standard therapy.

Participants will be followed for 12 weeks. Clinical neuropathy severity and quality of life will be assessed at baseline and then monthly during the follow-up period using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score and the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Nerve conduction study parameters and inflammatory biomarkers will be assessed at baseline and again after 12 weeks of treatment. Nerve conduction study parameters will include nerve conduction velocity, distal latency, and amplitude. Inflammatory biomarkers will include interleukin-8 and Galectin-3 levels.

The study is expected to provide clinical evidence regarding the potential role of DLBS1033 as adjunctive therapy for patients with diabetic neuropathy, particularly in relation to electrophysiological changes, clinical neuropathy severity, inflammatory biomarkers, and quality of life.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Putri Gily De La Glory Ginting, Medical Doctor; Phone Number: +6282276141617; Email: putriginting99@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Indonesia
  • North Sumatera
    • Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia, 20136
      • RS H Adam Malik
      • Contact: Putri Gily De La Glory Ginting, MD; Phone Number: +6282276141617; Email: putriginting99@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Putri Gily De La Glory Ginting, Medical Doctor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy based on symptoms and clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy and a Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) of 6 or higher, representing mild to severe neuropathy.
• Age 18 years or older.
• Willing to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form.
• Able to complete the study procedures and complete the Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire independently or with assistance from the investigator if needed.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with other conditions that may cause non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including history of chemotherapy, use of anti-tuberculosis drugs such as isoniazid, heavy alcohol consumption, chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, HIV/AIDS, hereditary neuropathy, or neuromuscular disease affecting the peripheral nerves.
• Participants with acute infection or active inflammatory conditions that may affect interleukin-8 and Galectin-3 levels at the time of sample collection before or after intervention, such as acute infection with fever, infection with systemic manifestations, active malignancy, or active inflammatory autoimmune disease.
• Allergy or history of hypersensitivity to the active ingredient of DLBS1033.
• Currently receiving another experimental therapy or participating in another clinical study.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: DLBS1033 Plus Standard Therapy; Participants in this arm will receive DLBS1033 as adjunctive therapy in addition to standard therapy for diabetic neuropathy for 12 weeks.	Dietary supplement: DLBS1033; DLBS1033 is a standardized bioactive extract derived from Lumbricus rubellus. Participants assigned to the intervention arm will receive DLBS1033 1 capsule orally three times daily for 12 weeks, in addition to standard therapy for diabetic neuropathy.; Other Names: Lumbricus rubellus Extract
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Plus Standard Therapy; Participants in this arm will receive placebo in addition to standard therapy for diabetic neuropathy for 12 weeks.	Dietary supplement: Placebo; Participants assigned to the control arm will receive a matching placebo capsule orally three times daily for 12 weeks, in addition to standard therapy for diabetic neuropathy.; Other Names: Placebo capsule

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Nerve Conduction Velocity Assessed by Nerve Conduction Study at Week 12	Nerve conduction velocity will be assessed using nerve conduction study and reported in meters per second. Change from baseline to week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline and week 12
Change From Baseline in Distal Latency Assessed by Nerve Conduction Study at Week 12	Distal latency will be assessed using nerve conduction study and reported in milliseconds. Change from baseline to week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline and week 12
Change From Baseline in Nerve Response Amplitude Assessed by Nerve Conduction Study at Week 12	Nerve response amplitude will be assessed using nerve conduction study and reported in millivolts for motor nerve responses and microvolts for sensory nerve responses. Change from baseline to week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline and week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score During 12 Weeks	Clinical neuropathy severity will be assessed using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score. The total score ranges from 0 to 19, with higher scores indicating more severe neuropathy. Scores of 0-5 indicate no neuropathy, 6-8 mild neuropathy, 9-11 moderate neuropathy, and 12 or higher severe neuropathy. Change from baseline to week 4, week 8, and week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12
Change From Baseline in Serum Interleukin-8 Level at Week 12	Serum interleukin-8 level will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reported in picograms per milliliter. Change from baseline to week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline and week 12
Change From Baseline in Serum Galectin-3 Level at Week 12	Serum Galectin-3 level will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reported in nanograms per milliliter. Change from baseline to week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline and week 12
Change From Baseline in Short Form-36 Quality of Life Score During 12 Weeks	Quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life. Change from baseline to week 4, week 8, and week 12 will be compared between groups.	Baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: RS H Adam Malik
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Putri Gily De La Glory Ginting, Medical Doctor, Department of Neurology, RS H Adam Malik

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of Life; SF-36; Interleukin-8; DLBS1033; Nerve Conduction Study; Galectin-3; Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score; Lumbricus rubellus
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Complications; Diabetic Neuropathies; DLBS 1033
• Other Study ID Numbers: DN-DLBS1033-001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the data contain confidential patient information and there is no current plan for public data sharing.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No