The antioxidant 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid, more commonly known as alpha-lipoic acid or a-lipoic acid, occurs naturally in the body in small amounts and in many foods. You can obtain extra a-lipoic acid by taking supplements. The substance has many theorized benefits, but research is lacking for some of its purported uses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult a health-care practitioner before taking a-lipoic acid supplements.
Sources
Red meat, organ meats, yeast, rice bran, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peas, spinach and tomatoes are all sources of a-lipoic acid. Capsules and tablets are available in varying doses as well. The UMMC website says a healthy body generates enough a-lipoic acid, but notes that a supplement of 20 to 50 mg per day can provide extra antioxidant support. A-lipoic acid also is available in an injectable form, which should only be used under the direction of a qualified health-care provider.
Antioxidant
A-lipoic acid helps turn glucose into energy, and the body creates waste products called free radicals when it converts food to energy, explains the UMMC. Because a-lipoic acid is an antioxidant, it also eliminates free radicals, an important feature because free radicals can damage cells and lead to disease. The Cleveland Clinic calls a-lipoic acid an "ultra-potent" antioxidant. Unlike the antioxidant vitamin C, which is only soluble in water, and vitamin E, which is only soluble in oil, a-lipoic acid is soluble in both, so it can enter all parts of cells. A-lipoic acid also may help regenerate other antioxidants so they become active again.
Diabetes Benefits
Research indicates that supplementing with a-lipoic acid can be beneficial for people with diabetes, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A-lipoic acid improves insulin sensitivity, leading to reduced blood sugar levels, and also significantly decreases symptoms of neuropathy, or nerve damage. These symptoms can include pain, burning, tingling and numbness, and with diabetics, it usually occurs in the toes, feet, fingers and hands. The main evidence involves intravenous doses of a-lipoic acid, while the evidence for benefits of oral supplements is weaker, according to the UMMC. The university website lists a standard oral dosage of 800 mg per day in divided doses for people seeking to reduce blood sugar and symptoms of neuropathy. Diabetic patients taking medication to regulate blood sugar should only take a-lipoic acid supplements under a doctor's supervision, as the combination could lead to hypoglycemia.
Potential
The UMMC reports that scientists are researching a-lipoic acid as a possible treatment for stroke and other brain disorders and for treating glaucoma. Test-tube studies suggest that the substance inhibits growth of the HIV virus, according to the UMMC, but that may not translate to a similar effect when taken as a supplement by humans.
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