Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Description:
Alpha lipoic acid is an enzyme found in the mitochondria – the energy producing structures found in our cells. As a dietary supplement, alpha-lipoic acid may act as a powerful antioxidant, where it may work in synergy with other nutritional antioxidants like vitamins C and E.

Claims:

Prevents cellular damage (from free radicals)

Reduces oxidative stress

Lowers blood sugar

Increases energy levels

Theory:
Although alpha lipoic acid is involved in cellular energy production, its chief role as a dietary supplement may be as a powerful antioxidant. The body appears to be able to manufacture enough alpha-lipoic acid for its metabolic functions (as a co-factor for a number of enzymes involved in converting fat and sugar to energy), but the excess levels provided by supplements allow alpha-lipoic acid to circulate in a "free" state. In this state, alpha-lipoic acid has functions as both a water- and fat-soluble antioxidant. This unique ability of alpha-lipoic acid to be active in water and lipid compartments of the body is important because most antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, are effective in only one area or the other. For instance vitamin C is usually restricted to the interior compartment of cells and the watery portion of blood, while vitamin E embeds itself in the fatty portion of cell membranes. Adding to the potential importance of alpha-lipoic acid is its role in the production of glutathione, one of the chief antioxidants produced directly by the body.

Scientific Support:
In animal studies, alpha-lipoic acid supplementation has been shown to improve several indices of metabolic activity and lower the degree of oxidative stress. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation reversed the declines in oxygen consumption and mitochondrial energy production that are commonly observed with aging. Activity levels were increased by approximately 3-fold in animals fed the supplement, suggesting that energy levels were enhanced. Levels of other antioxidants, such as glutathione and ascorbic acid, were also elevated in animals consuming alpha-lipoic acid, suggesting that the supplement may help protect and/or recycle these antioxidants and contribute to the overall capacity of the body to neutralize free radical damage

In conjunction with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid may be doubly helpful in patients with diabetes. By promoting the production of energy from fat and sugar in the mitochondria, glucose removal from the bloodstream may be enhanced and insulin function improved. Indeed, alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to decrease insulin resistance and is prescribed frequently in Europe as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) associated with diabetes. In the U.S., the American Diabetes Association has suggested that alpha-lipoic acid plus vitamin E may be helpful in combating some of the health complications associated with diabetes, including heart disease, vision problems, nerve damage and kidney disease. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been implicated in helping to protect the brain from damage following a stroke.

Safety:
Although there have been relatively few studies conducted with alpha-lipoic acid in humans, it appears to be safe as a dietary supplement. Intakes of as much as 600 mg per day have been used for treatment of diabetic neuropathy, with no serious side effects.

Value:
If alpha-lipoic acid were just another antioxidant, then its value would be far less. After all, there are dozens of ingredients on the market that have powerful antioxidant functions. The unique qualities possessed by alpha-lipoic acid, functioning as both a water- and fat-soluble antioxidant make it an intriguing ingredient and a supplement worthy of serious consideration.

Dosage:
50 – 100 mg per day as a general antioxidant


IronMagazine recommends IronMagLab's Essence EFA - Complete Essential Fatty Acid Complex containing ALA.


References:
1. Arivazhagan P, Panneerselvam C. Effect of DL - alpha -lipoic acid on neural antioxidants in aged rats. Pharmacol Res. 2000 Sep;42(3):219--22.
2. Biewenga GP, Haenen GR, Bast A. The pharmacology of the antioxidant lipoic acid. Gen Pharmacol. 1997 Sep;29(3):315-31.
3. Dovinova I. alpha-Lipoic acid--a natural disulfide cofactor and antioxidant with anticarcinogenic effects. Ceska Slov Farm. 1996 Sep;45(5):237-41.
4. Hagen TM, Ingersoll RT, Lykkesfeldt J, Liu J, Wehr CM, Vinarsky V, Bartholomew JC, Ames AB. (R)-alpha-lipoic acid-supplemented old rats have improved mitochondrial function, decreased oxidative damage, and increased metabolic rate. FASEB J. 1999 Feb;13(2):411-8.
5. Khanna S, Atalay M, Lodge JK, Laaksonen DE, Roy S, Hanninen O, Packer L, Sen CK. Skeletal muscle and liver lipoyllysine content in response to exercise, training and dietary alpha-lipoic acid supplementation. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1998 Oct;46(2):297-30 306.
6. Konrad T, Vicini P, Kusterer K, Hoflich A, Assadkhani A, Bohles HJ, Sewell A, Tritschler HJ, Cobelli C, Usadel KH. alpha-Lipoic acid treatment decreases serum lactate and pyruvate concentrations and improves glucose effectiveness in lean and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1999 Feb;22(2):280-0-7.
7. Nickander KK, McPhee BR, Low PA, Tritschler H. Alpha-lipoic acid: antioxidant potency against lipid peroxidation of neural tissues in vitro and implications for diabetic neuropathy. Free Radic Biol Med. 1996;21(5):631-9.
8. Packer L, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;22(1-2):359-78.
9. Packer L, Witt EH, Tritschler HJ. alpha-Lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med. 1995 Aug;19(2):227-50.
10. Packer L. alpha-Lipoic acid: a metabolic antioxidant which regulates NF-kappa B signal transduction and protects against oxidative injury. Drug Metab Rev. 1998 May;30(2):245-75.
11. Panigrahi M, Sadguna Y, Shivakumar BR, Kolluri SV, Roy S, Packer L, Ravindranath V. alpha-Lipoic acid protects against reperfusion injury following cerebral ischemia in rats. Brain Res. 1996 Apr 22;717(1-2):184-8.
12. Podda M, Tritschler HJ, Ulrich H, Packer L. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation prevents symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994 Oct 14;204(1):98-104.
13. Roy S, Sen CK, Tritschler HJ, Packer L. Modulation of cellular reducing equivalent homeostasis by alpha-lipoic acid. Mechanisms and implications for diabetes and ischemic injury. Biochem Pharmacol. 1997 Feb 7;53(3):393-9.
14. Scholz RW, Reddy PV, Wynn MK, Graham KS, Liken AD, Gumpricht E, Reddy CC. Glutathione-dependent factors and inhibition of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation. Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;23(5):815-28.
15. Serbinova E, Khwaja S, Reznick AZ, Packer L. Thioctic acid protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in the isolated perfused Langendorff heart. Free Radic Res Commun. 1992;17(1):49-58.8.
16. Vasdev S, Ford CA, Parai S, Longerich L, Gadag V. Dietary alpha-lipoic acid supplementation lowers blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 2000 May;18(5):567-73.
17. Ziegler D, Gries FA. Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes. 1997 Sep;46 Suppl 2:S62-6.

Added: September 6th 2002
Reviewer: SW Tech Staff
Related Link: Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
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