Alpha-lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid and sometimes referred to as "LA," is made by the body and found in small amounts in plants and animals. It is found in every cell of the human body and it helps to turn glucose, or sugar, into energy. Good food sources of it include red meat, organ meats and yeast, however the amount of alpha-lipoic acid found in food is relatively low. It can also be taken as a supplement for a variety therapeutic purposes and most supplemental doses are hundreds of times higher in LA than the levels found naturally in food.
A Potent Antioxidant
Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Many antioxidants are water-soluble, which means that they only work in water or they are fat soluble, meaning they only work in fatty tissue. LA, however, is both fat and water soluble, allowing it to work in all parts of the body. Evidence suggests that it also helps to regenerate and reactivate other antioxidants in the body that have been deactivated by free radicals. Its antioxidant activity promotes detoxification; helps to protect the cells, tissue and organs of the body from damage and supports the body in preventing and fighting off infections. The Linus Pauling Institute says that it also helps to bind and remove excess metals from the body such as iron and copper and may help to eliminate carcinogens.
A Diabetic Aid
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, alpha-lipoic acid has been used for many years in Europe to help treat diabetes. It can help to lower blood-sugar levels, and due to its ability to kill off free radicals, it may help to reduce the pain, burning, itching, tingling and numbness that is associated with diabetes related nerve damage. It also appears to help autonomic neuropathy, which is a diabetes related condition that affects the nerves supplying the heart. It also may be beneficial to glaucoma, which is common in diabetics. Unfortunately, most of the research done on the use of alpha-lipoic acid for diabetes was done with intravenous injections and not with oral doses. As such, more research needs to be done to confirm the efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid supplements for the treatment of diabetes.
The Promotion of a Healthy Brain
Alpha-lipoic acid can pass easily into the brain and it has a protective effect on your brain and nerve tissue. As such, research is being conducted on the use of alpha-lipoic acid for the treatment of strokes and other brain disorders that involve free radical damage. Although studies been done on humans, animals treated with it were found to suffer less brain damage and had a four times greater survival rate than animals who did not receive it.
A Healthy Liver
Alpha-lipoic acid may also support liver health and help to treat a variety of liver diseases. "Free Radical Biology and Medical" journal says that preliminary studies have found that supplemental LA helped to treat a number of conditions related to the liver, including alcohol-induced liver damage, mushroom poisoning and metal intoxification. For general antioxidant support, the UMMC says to take 20 to 50 mg daily; and for the treatment of liver or diabetes-related disorders, the suggested dose is between 600 and 800 mg daily. Alpha-lipoic acid may interact with certain medications or cause unwanted side effects, such as a rash. So, consult with your health-care practitioner before supplementing with it.
References
- The University of Maryland Medical Center: Alpha-lipoic Acid
- Linus Pauling Institute: Lipoic Acid
- "Free Radical Biology and Medical"; Alpha-lipoic Acid in Liver Metabolism and Disease; Bustamante J; 1998
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