Lipoic acid, also known by the names alpha-lipoic acid and thioctic acid, is an antioxidant substance that plays a significant role in your ability to use the cellular fuel source called glucose. Your body makes this acid naturally and you can also get it from several dietary sources. Use of lipoic acid supplements carries relatively limited risks for most adults. However, consult your doctor before taking a lipoic acid product.
Background
Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from a chemical reaction called oxidation, which occurs when molecules or atoms lose particles called electrons. Oxidation is a natural body process, but it also leads to formation of harmful molecules called free radicals, which damage the integrity of surrounding cells and can impair the function of your immune system. Lipoic acid is a particularly important antioxidant because it can work in the presence of water or in your fatty tissues. Other types of antioxidants --- including vitamins E and C --- only work in one of these two environments.
Potential Side Effects
There are no health risks associated with consumption of the lipoic acid found in foods such as brewer's yeast, red meat and organs meats, according to the American Cancer Society. However, when taken at doses that range between 300 mg and 600 mg, supplemental forms of the acid can produce side effects that include skin rash, itching, hives and various forms of stomach upset. If you take doses on the high end of this range, you can also experience increases in your levels of blood glucose. For this reason, people with diabetes or the low blood sugar disorder hypoglycemia can only safely take lipoic acid with a doctor's ongoing monitoring and advice.
Interactions and Unsuitable Users
Use of lipoic acid can change the normal effects of insulin and other medications used to control blood glucose in diabetics, as well as the effects of levothyroxine and other thyroid hormone medications. People using these medications need their underlying conditions monitored closely by a doctor if they also take lipoic acid. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effects of supplemental lipoic acid on children, pregnant women or lactating women; as a result, people in these groups should not use or receive lipoic acid supplements. People who have vitamin B-1 deficiencies also need to avoid lipoic acid supplements.
Additional Considerations
In theory, lipoic acid supplementation can interfere with your body's use of the B vitamin called biotin. However, no one knows if this interference occurs in real-world circumstances, Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute notes. If you have cancer, be aware that the antioxidant effects of lipoic acid can inadvertently protect cancer cells and lower the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments and/or radiation therapy. There is no standard dose for lipoic acid supplementation, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. Consult your doctor before you use any supplement product labeled lipoic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, thioctic acid, lipolate or dihydrolipoic acid.
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