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Alpha Lipoic Acid
What Is Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Alpha-lipoic acid (also called lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is a sulfur-containing substance that is readily converted to and from its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid acts as a coenzyme in reactions that occur in the Krebs cycle; specifically it is involved in the decarboxylation of pyruvate and some other alpha-keto acids.
Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant able to deactivate both fat- and water-soluble free radicals and thereby protect both lipoproteins and membranes. No other single antioxidant can do this, making alpha-lipoic acid the premier antioxidant.
Who Should Consider Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Your body does in fact manufacture Alpha Lipoic Acid, but supplementing it may provide benefits beyond its involvement in carbohydrate metabolism. For example, Alpha Lipoic Acid is able to deactivate both fat and water soluble free radicals and thereby protect both lipoproteins and membranes; no other single antioxidant can do this.
Take a look at this list of fat and water soluble reactive oxygen species (ROS) ("ROS" is an umbrella term that includes both radicals and other chemicals that, while not technically radicals, are damaging to the body):
Hydrogen atom
Peroxyl
Peroxynitrate
Hydroxyl
Alkoxyl
Superoxide anion
Semiquinone
Trichloromethyl
Nitric oxide
Singlet oxygen
Hydrogen peroxide
Note that the last two are not radicals, that is, they do not have an unpaired electron, yet they are Reactive Oxygen Species. Alpha Lipoic Acid "quenches" the oxygen singlet, hydroxyl, and superoxide species, while its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid, stabilizes the peroxyl and peroxynitrate radicals. Both forms (initial and reduced) regenerate through redox cycling other antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E, and increase intracellular glutathione levels.1 Please see our selenium page for more on glutathione. The hydroxyl radical is considered to be the most damaging; peroxynitrate is perhaps a close second. Lipoprotein peroxidation is important to stop because this is the reaction that leads to such undesirable health problems as atherosclerosis.
Side Effects
It is not recommended to take Alpha-Lipoic Acid manufactured in a two-part hard-shell gelatin or vegicap. There is a chance, albeit small, that a two-part capsule will open when being swallowed; the contents can burn the esophagus. To reduce this risk, we offer enteric-coated tablets and sealed softgel capsules. Although a bit more expensive, these are better forms for this product. Do not cut open the softgel capsules thinking it will be easier to swallow the contents alone. Also, if you have two-part hard-shell capsules from another manufacturer, do not open them. Our tablets are small and easy to swallow.
Label Facts
Alpha Lipoic Acid, 100mg, 60 Softgels:
Supplement Facts Serving Size: 1 Softgel Servings per container: 60
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Total Calories
2
Total Fat
140 mg
<1%*
Saturated Fat
48 mg
<1%*
Unsaturated Fat
92 mg
†
Monounsaturated Fat
34 mg
†
Polyunsaturated Fat
58 mg
†
Total Carbohydrate
66 mg
<1%*
Protein
118 mg
<1%*
Cholesterol
0 mg
<1%*
Alpha Lipoic Acid
100 mg
†
*Percent daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily value not established.
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Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials
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Reljanovic, M., G. Reichel, K. Rett, M. Lobisch, K. Schuette, W. Moller, H. J. Tritschler and H. Mehnert (1999). "Treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid): a two year multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (ALADIN II). Alpha Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy." Free Radic Res 31(3): 171-9.
Ruhnau, K. J., H. P. Meissner, J. R. Finn, M. Reljanovic, M. Lobisch, K. Schutte, D. Nehrdich, H. J. Tritschler, H. Mehnert and D. Ziegler (1999). "Effects of 3-week oral treatment with the antioxidant thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) in symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy." Diabet Med 16(12): 1040-3.
Sachse, G. and B. Willms (1980). "Efficacy of thioctic acid in the therapy of peripheral diabetic neuropathy." Horm Metab Res Suppl 9: 105-7.
Strokov, I. A., N. A. Kozlova, V. Mozolevskii Iu, S. P. Miasoedov and N. N. Iakhno (1999). "[The efficacy of the intravenous administration of the trometamol salt of thioctic (alpha-lipoic) acid in diabetic neuropathy]." Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 99(6): 18-22.
Ziegler, D. and F. A. Gries (1997). "Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy." Diabetes 46 Suppl 2: S62-6.
Ziegler, D., M. Hanefeld, K. J. Ruhnau, H. P. Meissner, M. Lobisch, K. Schutte and F. A. Gries (1995). "Treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy with the anti- oxidant alpha-lipoic acid. A 3-week multicentre randomized controlled trial (ALADIN Study)." Diabetologia 38(12): 1425-33.
Ziegler, D., H. Schatz, F. Conrad, F. A. Gries, H. Ulrich and G. Reichel (1997). "Effects of treatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in NIDDM patients. A 4-month randomized controlled multicenter trial (DEKAN Study). Deutsche Kardiale Autonome Neuropathie." Diabetes Care 20(3): 369-73.
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