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R-Dihydro Lipoic Acid Benefits

Dec 3, 2010 | By Melissa Lingohr-Smith

R-Dihydro Lipoic acid, also just called lipoic acid, refers to an organosulfur compound that is made in the body or obtained from the diet. It acts as a strong antioxidant and serves as a cofactor in enzymes that produce cellular energy. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that lipoic acid in the form of supplements is used to treat diabetes, diabetic neuropathies, HIV/AIDS and liver disease. Before taking this or any other supplement, consult your physician.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which many tissues of the body no longer respond to normal levels of insulin. Many antidiabetic agents, including lipoic acid work by improving the insulin sensitivity of muscle, liver and fat tissue. A review in the November 2008 issue of "Nutrition Reviews" reports that oral administration of lipoic acid at a daily dose of 600 improved insulin sensitivity by 25 percent after 4 weeks of treatment in type 2 diabetic patients. This source reports that other studies have also demonstrated an improvement in insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients administered lipoic acid.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a painful condition that commonly effects people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, AIDs and cancer. It is characterized by the loss of sensation in the feet and legs with feelings of tingling, burning and cramping. An assessment of four clinical trials in the April 2010 issue of "The Netherlands Journal of Medicine" concludes that intravenous administration of 600 mg lipoic acid daily significantly relieves neuropathic pain. The article in "Nutrition Reviews" notes that oral administration of lipoic acid may also improve neuropathy, however the results from human trials suggest it is less effective than intravenous infusion.

Alzheimer's Disease

An article in the October/November 2008 issue of "Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews" reports that 600 mg of lipoic acid daily provided some delay in progression of dementia in Alzheimer's patients. This source noted that lipoic acid reduced chronic oxidative stress and inflammation in animal models of dementia. More research is required to assess the benefits of lipoic acid supplementation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other central nervous system disorders with similar disease mechanisms.

AIDs

A study in the March 2008 issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" reports that lipoic acid supplementation increased immune cell function and restored antioxidant enzyme activity in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV.

Liver Disease

Many liver associated diseases like alcoholic liver disease and liver toxin injury result from excessive free radical induced damage. An article in the April 1988 issue of "Free Radical Biology and Medicine" says there are case reports in which lipoic acid has proven effective in treating liver diseases and repaired the injury from toxins. Further research is required in clinical trials to better determine the effectiveness of lipoic acid in the treatment of chronic liver diseases.

Cancer

Although not yet established in human clinical trials lipoic acid has been found to prevent the growth of certain types of cancers in laboratory experiments and animal models, states Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

References

Article reviewed by Rachel Mattison Last updated on: Dec 3, 2010

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