Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Alpha-lipoic acid is a compound found naturally inside every cell of the human body. Its primary role is to convert blood sugar glucose into energy using oxygen, a process referred to as aerobic metabolism.
Alpha-lipoic acid is also considered an antioxidant, meaning that it can neutralize harmful compounds called free radicals that damage cells at the genetic level. What makes alpha-lipoic acid so unique is that it is soluble in both water and fat. That means that it can deliver energy immediately or warehouse it for future use.
Alpha-lipoic acid can also recycle "used" antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and a potent amino acid compound known as glutathione. Alpha-lipoic acid helps restore them by absorbing excess electrons and converting them to the back to their stable form. Alpha-lipoic acid is sometimes taken as a supplement under the presumption it can improve certain metabolic functions, including fat burning, collagen production, and blood glucose control.
There is growing evidence of at least some of these claims. In addition to supplements, alpha-lipoic acid is synthesized in the body and found in many of the foods we eat, especially Brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli, peas, brewer's yeast , potato, yams, carrots, rice bran, and organ meats.
Much of the research involving alpha-lipoic acid has been centered on the prevention of diabetes and the management of diabetic nerve pain. In addition, many alternative healthcare provider contend that alpha-lipoic acid can prevent or treat a multitude of health conditions, including alcoholic liver disease, HIV, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, premature labor, schizophrenia, and erectile dysfunction, among others.
To date, there is little evidence to support these claims. Here are some of the more promising findings related to alpha-lipoic acid use:. It has long been presumed that alpha-lipoic acid can aid in the control of glucose by increasing the speed in which the blood sugar is metabolized. This could potentially aid in the treatment of diabetes , a disease characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials of people with metabolic disorders some had type 2 diabetes, others had other metabolic disorders found that lipoic acid supplementation lowered fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration, insulin resistance, and blood hemoglobin A1C levels.
Some scientists believe that oral supplements will not provide the therapeutic effect needed to prevent or treat diabetes and have begun investigating whether an intravenous IV infusion might help.
A study from China provided a compelling proof-of-concept of the hypothesis: 12 obese adults with prediabetes experienced improvements in insulin resistance after two weeks of daily mg alpha-lipoic acid infusions.
While this approach would be impractical in clinical practice, it does hint at the potential benefit of alpha-lipoic acid in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes. By contrast, there is no evidence that the supplement can prevent or treat type 1 diabetes , the form of the disease typically associated with an immune system malfunction. Neuropathy is the medical term used to describe the pain, numbness, and abnormal sensations caused by nerve damage.
Oftentimes, the damage is caused by the oxidative stress placed on the nerves by chronic diseases such as diabetes, Lyme disease, shingles, thyroid disease, kidney failure, and HIV.
It is believed by some that alpha-lipoic acid, given in large enough doses, can counter this stress by exerting potent antioxidant activity. There has been evidence of this effect in people with diabetic neuropathy , a potentially debilitating condition experienced in people with advanced diabetes.
A review of studies from the Netherlands concluded that a daily mg intravenous dose of alpha-lipoic acid given over three weeks provided "significant and clinically relevant reduction in neuropathic pain.
As with the previous diabetes studies, oral alpha-lipoic acid supplements were generally less effective or had no effect at all. Other studies have explored the effect alpha-lipoic acid might have in treating other forms of neuropathy. To date, there have been no suggestions of a benefit, either in dealing with infectious causes of neuropathy or neuropathy induces by medications such as chemotherapy.
Currently, only Germany has approved the use of intravenous alpha-lipoic acid for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Alpha-lipoic acid's ability to enhance calorie burning and promote weight loss has been exaggerated by many diet gurus and supplements manufacturers. With that being said, there is growing evidence that alpha-lipoic acid can influence weight, albeit modestly. A review of studies from the Yale University found that alpha-lipoic acid supplements, ranging in dose from to 1, mg daily, helped prompt an average weight loss of 2.
There was no association between the alpha-lipoic supplement dose and the amount of weight loss. Moreover, the duration of treatment appears to influence a person's body mass index BMI , but not the person's actual weight. What this means is that, while it appears you can only lose so much weight with alpha-lipoic acid, your body composition may improve as fat is gradually replaced by lean muscle. Alpha-lipoic acid has long been believed to influence weight and health by altering the lipid fat composition in the blood.
This includes increasing "good" high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol while lowering "bad" low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Recent research suggests this may not be so.
In a study from Korea, adults provided 1, to 1, mg of alpha-lipoic acid lost 21 percent more weight than the placebo group after 20 weeks but experienced no improvements in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, or triglycerides.
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Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; Effect of transdermal testosterone or alpha-lipoic acid on erectile dysfunction and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Folia Med Plovdiv. Lipoic acid improves nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress, and improves distal nerve conduction in experimental diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care. Molecular aspects of lipoic acid in the prevention of diabetes complications. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-linoic acis.
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Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of alpha-lipoic acid in experimentally induced acute otitis media. J Laryngol Otol. Flaxseed oil and alpha-lipoic acid combination ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress and lipid accumulation in comparison to lard.
Lipids Health Dis. Anticancer Drugs. Ziegler D, Gries FA. Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy in Germany: current evidence from clinical trials. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. Alpha-lipoic acid Dihydrolipoic acid; Lipoic acid; Lipolate; Thiotic acid. Dietary Sources If you are healthy, your body makes enough alpha-lipoic acid.
Available Forms Alpha-lipoic acid supplements are available as capsules. Since humans can only produce ALA in small amounts, many people turn to supplements to increase their intake.
Some claim that ALA may help people lose weight. For example, one study on an animal model found that ALA could improve skeletal muscle energy metabolism, possibly increasing how many calories the body can burn.
However, studies also show that the impact of ALA on weight loss is small. According to a analysis , those taking ALA supplements only lost an average of 1. Some research suggests that ALA may help the body control blood sugar levels and improve cholesterol levels. Research has also shown that it could reduce nerve damage symptoms that are common in people with diabetes, such as numbness, pain, and paralysis. CRP is an inflammation marker that may indicate chronic inflammation linked to harmful diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
According to some research , ALA, because it is a potent antioxidant , may help reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is one of the primary causes of heart disease. Oxidative stress occurs naturally with age. As well as playing a role in the development of heart disease, it also plays a critical role in brain health and memory loss. Some studies show that ALA may have health benefits including reducing inflammation, aiding weight loss, and lowering the risk of heart disease.
However, many of these studies were small, short-term, or in animal models. More research is needed to determine whether ALA is an effective treatment or preventative measure for the conditions and issues listed above. Doctors consider ALA to be safe for most people, with little to no risk of side effects. Mild effects may include nausea, rashes, and itching if a person takes high doses.
According to researchers , adults may take it up to 2, milligrams without serious side effects. There is not enough research and evidence on the extra benefits and potential side effects of taking higher doses, so medical professionals do not recommend it. There is not enough evidence on its safety for use in children, however, so adults should always keep ALA in a safe place. It is essential for people considering taking ALA supplements to talk to their doctor to see if it is right for them.
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