Alpha Lipoic Acid Review

Alpha-lipoic acid (sometimes referred to as thioctic acid) is a chemical found in every cell of the human body, and has been used as a dietary supplement for energy metabolism, anti-aging, liver health and diabetes. Scientists have been investigating the many benefits of alpha-lipoic acid for decades, and have approved as safe and effective for use both internally and externally in humans.

How Does Alpha Lipoic Acid Work

The body forms it to help convert glucose into energy inside cells, and to fight free radicals created as waste products from the metabolism process. It is one of the few antioxidants in the body that is soluble in both water and fat, so it helps to protect against free radical damage in all parts of the body. Normally your body will form it's own alpha-lipoic acid, so you do not have to worry about becoming deficient in this antioxidant. However, there is considerable research going into the many benefits of supplementing with extra alpha-lipoic acid.

Research shows that alpha-lipoic acid may have many benefits for cardiovascular health, brain health, liver health, diabetes and antioxidant status. In addition to taking alpha-lipoic acid as a supplement, you can also consume it in foods, such as from organ meats, spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli, tomatoes, brewer's yeast and rice bran.

Antioxidant

Alpha-lipoic acid is one of the few antioxidants present in every single cell of the body. Where vitamin C is only soluble in water, and vitamin E is only soluble in fats, alpha-lipoic acid is soluble in both and can travel throughout every part of the body. According to a study published in "General Pharmacology" in 1997, studies on alpha-lipoic acid have demonstrated that it has a double-action in the fight against free radicals. On the one hand, it defends against free radicals and neutralizes. On the other, it also appears to support the repair of human tissues which have been damaged by oxidative damage.

In addition to being a powerful antioxidant in its own right, it also enhances the activity of other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and glutathione. Because of its multitude of properties, alpha-lipoic acid is an important natural chemical for protecting the cardiovascular system from disease, and protecting the nervous system from free-radical related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

Skin Care

Alpha-lipoic acid has many medicinal properties when used topically on the skin in the form of creams, gels or emulsions. Researchers from Karolinska Hospital in Sweden wanted to study the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the aging of facial skin, and set up a double-blind clinical trial. Thirty three participants were included in the study, and those who used the alpha lipoic acid cream over twelve weeks experienced a 50% improvement in the roughness of their facial skin. Results of the study were published in "The British Journal of Dermatology" in 2003, and confirmed that alpha-lipoic acid has an important role in anti-aging skin care.

Diabetes

A third of all patients suffering from type 2 diabetes report symptoms of nerve damage, known as neuropathy, including pain, tingling, burning, numbness and strange sensations. For years scientists have investigated alpha-lipoic acid as a possible candidate for preventing, improving, and even reversing, some of these complaints. In a Chinese double-blind clinical study published by the Jiaotong University School of Medicine in 2010, researchers tested alpha-lipoic acid on 236 diabetes patients. Over 70% of those given alpha-lipoic acid reported an improvement of neuropathy symptoms, compared to just 18% of those taking placebo. The treatment with alpha-lipoic acid was associated with very few side effects and adverse reactions, and the authors of the study confirmed that alpha-lipoic acid was both safe and effective for type 2 diabetes patients with symptoms of nerve damage.

Liver Health

Scientists have been studying the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the health of the liver since the 1980's. Alpha-lipoic acid is an important antioxidant for the liver, and is involved in a variety of detoxification mechanisms.

Researchers from Keimyung University School of Medicine in South Korea wanted to test alpha-lipoic acid on fatty liver -- a common condition in people suffering from insulin insensitivity and obesity. During the study they found that alpha-lipoic worked through a variety of mechanisms to reduce fatty liver. Findings from the study were published in "Hepatology" in 2008, and showed evidence that alpha-lipoic acid was beneficial for liver diseases not related to alcohol abuse.

Safety Concerns

Alpha-lipoic acid is safe and effective for the majority of the population. According to Drug Information Online, even very high doses of alpha-lipoic acid have failed to produce serious adverse reactions in either humans or animals. Some people can experience low blood sugar levels, as alpha-lipoic acid effects glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Patients on insulin should always consult with their doctor before taking alpha-lipoic acid, as it may interact with their medication undesirably. Some people have reported skin reactions such as dermatitis from alpha-lipoic acid, and just one case of insulin autoimmune syndrome has been reported.

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