Lipoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid, is an antioxidant your body makes that helps cells convert blood sugar into energy, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Antioxidants are substances that protect your body from free radicals that are produced when your cells convert blood sugar into energy. Free radicals are essentially activated oxygen molecules that damage cells and impair your immune system, the American Cancer Association explains. Lipoic acid helps protect against free radicals.
Possible Uses
Lipoic acid helps amplify the effects of other antioxidants, the American Cancer Association notes. It also helps regenerate depleted antioxidants that have been utilized to combat free radicals. Lipoic acid helps lower your body's risk of developing cancer by impairing free radical damage. There is also evidence that suggests lipoic acid may slow the aging process. Lipoic acid can protect your body from damage caused by both types of diabetes, Drugs.com explains. Lipoic acid may even help shore up compromised antioxidant defenses brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
Recommended Dose
Lipoic acid is available in 30 to 100 mg tablet form, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Daily lipoic acid doses can vary depending on their purpose. Take between 20 to 50 mg daily for general antioxidant support. For use with diabetes, this dose can be increased to about 800 mg taken in smaller doses throughout the day. Regardless of your reasons for taking lipoic acid, seek medical advice to determine your daily dose to avoid adverse reactions. Any antioxidant taken at high doses may be harmful to your cells, the American Cancer Association notes.
Side Effects
Lipoic acid may cause side effects such as breathing difficulty, swelling of the facial area and hypoglycemia, Drugs.com explains. You may also experience blurred vision, nausea, elevated heart rate and weakness due to lipoic acid intake. Confusion and an impaired ability to concentrate are also possible lipoic acid side effects. Muscle cramps, numbness and dizziness are less serious adverse reactions to lipoic acid intake. Lipoic acid may also interact with medications such as insulin and thyroid-regulating medications, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes.
Food Sources
Lipoic acid is a fatty acid found in vegetables such as broccoli, potatoes and spinach, Drugs.com notes. Red meat, liver and kidney also contain lipoic acid. Yeast contains lipoic acid.
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