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Does Alpha-Lipoic Acid Lower Blood Sugar?

Mar 11, 2011 | By Tracey Roizman, D.C.

Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant molecule that is essential for life, is found in most foods and is also available commercially as a supplement. Among its uses, alpha-lipoic acid is needed for energy production. Recent scientific research has revealed significant health benefits of alpha-lipoic acid for a variety of conditions, including lowering blood sugar. Consult your doctor before using alpha-lipoic acid to lower your blood sugar.

Diabetes

Alpha-lipoic acid prevented diabetes in a study of laboratory animals fed a high-fructose diet. In the study, published in the May 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology," alpha-lipoic acid decreased oxidation caused by the fructose diet. Insulin resistance increased in both the supplement group and the control group that did not receive alpha-lipoic acid, but blood sugar fluctuations in the group that received alpha-lipoic acid were reduced. Also, supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid delayed onset of diabetes by one month in animals on the high-fructose diet. The researchers concluded that alpha-lipoic acid improves blood sugar management and may prove to be helpful in the intervention of diabetes.

Oxidation

Alpha-lipoic acid decreases insulin resistance and alleviates oxidative and inflammatory stresses that complicate and worsen diabetes, according to a study published in the December 2009 issue of the journal "Endocrine Metabolic and Immune Disorders Drug Targets." According to the researchers, alpha-lipoic acid reduces insulin resistance by modulating signals between cells. Additionally, they noted that alpha-lipoic acid offers the advantage of a high-safety profile, even in people with impaired liver and kidney function, as occasionally occurs together with diabetes, in some people.

Insulin Resistance

Alpha-lipoic acid reduced cholesterol and insulin resistance, but it did not lower blood sugar, in a study published in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Southern Medical University." In that study, scientists gave laboratory animals a high-fat diet supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid for four weeks. Alpha-lipoic acid significantly decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and insulin, compared to a control group that did not receive the supplement. The researchers concluded that alpha-lipoic acid may reverse high cholesterol and prevent insulin resistance.

Drug Withdrawal

Drug withdrawal symptoms might be eased with the use of alpha-lipoic acid, according to a study published in the 2009 issue of the journal "Arzneimittelforschung." In a study involving laboratory animals, alpha-lipoic acid reduced blood sugar fluctuations and reduced irritability during morphine withdrawal. The researchers concluded that alpha-lipoic acid helped to control blood sugar levels, reduce oxidative stress and promote calm behavior during withdrawal from morphine.

References

Article reviewed by Helen Covington Last updated on: Mar 11, 2011

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