Each cell of your body contains the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Your body produces alpha-lipoic acid and uses it to convert glucose into energy. Alpha-lipoic acid provides protection against damage caused by free radicals. It also helps other antioxidants regenerate and become active once more, and it seems useful in protecting and repairing lung damage. Alpha-lipoic acid supplements are available in tablet and injection form.
Dose
Children should not take alpha-lipoic acid because not enough research has been done on the use of alpha-lipoic acid supplements on children. Alpha-lipoic acid tablets are available in tablet doses of 30 to 100 mg. Adult alpha-lipoic acid doses for general antioxidant support range from 20 mg/day to 50 mg/day. However, oral doses for alpha-lipoic acid have gone as high as 300 mg/day to 1,800 mg/day in clinical studies, according to Drugs.com.
Protects Lungs from Injury
A study published in the 2007 issue of the "Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" examined the use of lipoic acid in treating damage from lipopolysaccharides, or LPS. LPS is a substance that stimulates the release of metabolites from phagocytes that injure various organs of your body, starting with your lungs. The study examined the effect of early lipoic acid administration in preventing or alleviating lung damage. The study used lipoic acid injections on rat subjects. The results proved that the early intervention of lipoic acid attenuated LPS-induced lung injury in rats. However, more research is needed to ascertain whether it might have this effect on human subjects.
Treating Lung Damage
A 2010 issue of "Shock" published a study involving the use of alpha-lipoic acid as a treatment for lung injury induced by sepsis. The study used rats as test subjects. The rats were exposed to cecal ligation and punctured to induce sepsis. They were then divided into six groups, with a group of rats being treated with alpha-lipoic acid. The study found that the rats treated with alpha-lipoic acid had decreased septic lung oxidant activity. This suggests the potential use of alpha-lipoic acid in protecting lungs from septic shock. Nevertheless, more research is required to prove these results will also occur with humans.
Lung Cancer Cells
Alpha-lipoic acid quite possibly protects your lungs from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, according to a study published in a 2009 issue of the "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences". The study examined the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lung cancer cells and discovered that it also induced apoptosis in the cancer cells while simultaneously shielding the cells in the lungs from damage. The results suggest the potential use of alpha-lipoic acid in treating lung cancer. However, more research is necessary to validate this assertion.
References
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Mechanism of Alpha-Lipoic Acid-Induced Apoptosis of Lung Cancer Cells; S.Y. Choi; August 2009
- Drugs.com: Alpha-Lipoic Acid
- "Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology"; Protective Effects of Early Treatment with Lipoic Acid in LPS-Induced Lung Injury in Rats; A. Goraca; September 2007
- "Shock"; Alpha-Lipoic Acid As a Potential Target for the Treatment of Lung Injury Caused by Cecal Ligation and Puncture-Induced Sepsis Model in Rats; E. Cadirci; May 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Alpha-Lipoic Acid
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