Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid used by every cell in your body to help turn glucose into energy. It serves as an antioxidant and has the ability to function in both water and fat, while most compounds are designed for one or the other. Some studies have shown benefits of alpha lipoic acid in the treatment of neuropathy. Consult your doctor before using alpha lipoic acid for neuropathy.
Nerve Conduction
Alpha lipoic acid may alleviate symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, according to a study published in the March 2010 issue of the journal "General Physiology and Biophysics." In the laboratory animal study, 100 mg/kg body weight of alpha lipoic acid five days a week for 16 weeks significantly improved measurements of nerve conduction. The researchers concluded that alpha lipoic acid and perhaps certain other antioxidants may be helpful in preventing nerve dysfunction in diabetes.
Antioxidant Effects
Alpha lipoic acid delays, and may reverse, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, according to a study published in the Winter 2009 issue of the journal "The Review of Diabetic Studies." Its antioxidant properties are responsible for the benefits, say the researchers. Alpha lipoic acid increases levels of the antioxidant glutathione -- an important antioxidant used by the liver in its detoxification processes. The supplement also improves oxygen supply to nerves and prevents glycation -- a hazardous effect of elevated blood sugar involving the binding of sugar to various molecules. Dosages of 600 mg have been used with success in some people.
Foot Neuropathy
The "Bosnian Journal of Basic Medicine" published a report in its November 2008 issue on a study that showed significant benefits for the use of alpha lipoic acid in patients with diabetic foot neuropathy. Participants in the study had either type I or type II diabetes and had experienced peripheral neuropathy for between one and 15 years. Scientists gave participants 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid per day intravenously for three weeks and then 300 to 600 mg per day for three months as an oral supplement. All but one of the participants described improvement in their neuropathy symptoms.
Heart Function
A study published in the 2009 issue of the journal "Klinicheskaia Meditsina" found improved heart function as evidence of the anti-neuropathy effects alpha lipoic acid supplementation in diabetics. Increased strength of contraction of the heart implies better nerve supply, in diabetic neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy also improved within 14 days of starting treatment with 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid. The neuropathy benefits were not associated with changes in blood sugar or cholesterol.
References
- "General Physiology and Biophysics"; Neuropathy in a rat model of mild diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin: effects of the antioxidant stobadine in comparison with a high-dose alpha-lipoic acid treatment; Skalská S, et al.; 2010
- "The reveiw of Diabetic Studies"; Alpha-lipoic Acid and diabetic neuropathy; Vallianou N, et al.; 2009
- "Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences"; The role of alpha-lipoic acid in diabetic polyneuropathy treatment; Burekovic A, et al.; 2008
- "Klinicheskia Meditsina"; [Effect of alpha-lipoic acid and mexidol on neuro- and the affective status in patients at early stages of diabetic foot syndrome]. [Article in Russian] Volchegorskii IA, et al.; 2008
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