Alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, is an antioxidant your body produces to aid in making energy and regenerating other antioxidants. ALA can also be found in some foods, including meat, especially organ meats, and some vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli. If healthy, your body can produce ample levels of ALA; however, the levels shown to be effective in treating diabetes and vascular disease are much greater than the amounts found in food.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
ALA is soluble in both water and fat-based environments and can thus be effective throughout the body. Though ALA is an antioxidant in the test tube, it is not clear whether it has the same effects in your body. ALA regenerates other antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C, that have been damaged by free radials. ALA also stimulates the synthesis of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier.
Levels in Spinach
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, precise levels of ALA in foods have not been measured. Normally, ALA, as well as some other fat-based molecules, exists bound to the amino acid lysine, a form called lipolysine. Spinach is known to contain high levels of lipolysine, although it is not clear that all of this is ALA.
Benefits
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ALA can improve blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity and peripheral neuropathy in those with diabetes. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, ALA may also help prevent neuropathy and cellular damage in vascular disease when blood flow is decreased, preventing nutrient delivery and waste removal. ALA may also be beneficial in preventing damage to the liver and brain.
Food vs. Supplements
Unfortunately, the levels of ALA found in foods are hundreds to thousands of times lower than the levels used in scientific studies. ALA is rapidly absorbed and degraded by your body. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, consumption of ALA-rich foods did not show a significant elevation of ALA in the blood. It is not known whether consumption of ALA-rich foods has any significant effect on health.
Member Comments