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Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Universal Antioxidant...And Miracle Cure?
By Michael D. Shaw, Contributing Columnist - HealthNewsDigest.com
Mar 3, 2008 - 12:01:47 AM
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Ever since the pharmaceutical industry began
advertising their products directly to the consumer, the outstanding
benefits of dozens of drugs have been widely touted. Certainly, there
are guidelines regarding how the benefits are presented, along with
provisions to address the often scary list of side effects. At best,
these pharmaceuticals—created at great cost, and not always tested as
well as they should be—have a limited number of indications. That is,
they have very specific applications.
Compare these to a naturally-occurring substance that has been proven effective in such disparate areas as treating...
- Peripheral neuropathy in diabetics; also reduces blood sugar levels
- Chronic hepatitis
- Alzheimer's disease
- Certain oral dermatological conditions
We're talking about alpha-lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant, acting
as a defense against harmful free radicals. A free radical is any atom
or molecule that has an unpaired electron in the outer ring. As such,
these entities are forever in search of that missing electron, and when
they find one and strip it off from a neighbor molecule, they have just
oxidized it.
Since this activity will set off a chain reaction of more free radicals
being created, spawning yet more of the same, substantial biological
damage can occur, including perhaps the aging process itself. Moreover,
it is thought that the toxicity of heavy metals, ionizing radiation,
various pesticides, and tobacco smoke may all be due to their free
radical initiating ability. Some free radicals occur during metabolism,
and occasionally free radicals are generated on purpose by our immune
system to kill bacteria and viruses. For a variety of reasons, our
system might not be able to cope with the free radical onslaught.
Suffice to say that they have been implicated in dozens of diseases.
The role of antioxidants is simply to stop the free radical chain
reaction. You're no doubt acquainted with two of the most common
antioxidants—Vitamins C and E.
Vitamin C is our body's most abundant water-soluble antioxidant, noted
for combating free-radical formation caused by pollution and tobacco
smoke in the body. Vitamin E is our body's most abundant fat-soluble
antioxidant, noted for its action against lipid peroxidation (the
formation of unstable molecules containing excess oxygen).
What makes alpha-lipoic acid so special is that it is both water and
fat (lipid) soluble: the universal antioxidant. Thus, it 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. Additionally, alpha-lipoic acid can cross the blood/brain
barrier—a wall of tiny vessels and structural cells—and pass easily
into the brain.
Supplementation of alpha-lipoic acid will increase levels of
glutathione, essential for proper functioning of the immune system, as
it plays a crucial role in the multiplication of lymphocytes. Adding
glutathione may even have an anti-aging effect, inasmuch as its levels
decline with age, thus promoting more free radical damage.
Alpha-lipoic acid acts synergistically with the herb milk thistle
(silymarin) and selenium in the treatment of Hepatitis C, and has shown
promise with stroke—especially in animal studies. Research is ongoing
in such areas as heart disease, as well as therapies for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cataracts, chronic fatigue syndrome, and
glaucoma.
Side effects of alpha-lipoic acid appear to be minimal, but diabetics
are cautioned that it may lower their blood sugar levels too much, and
they should monitor this. There might also be interactions with other
medications, including thyroid supplements. Patients are advised that
certain anti-cancer drugs might be affected. With little pediatric
clinical data available, it is not recommended for children.
Dietary sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, liver, broccoli,
beef, and brewer's yeast. Commercial supplement capsules are readily
available in dosages ranging from 30 to 100 milligrams. For general
antioxidant support, many people take 20 mg to 50 mg per day.
Therapeutic effects for peripheral neuropathy required dosages of 600
mg, divided through the day.
With the establishment of The National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 1998, complementary and alternative
healing practices are explored in the context of rigorous science.
Happily, there have already been five clinical trials involving
alpha-lipoic acid, and we anticipate excellent results.
Michael D. Shaw
Exec VP
Interscan Corporation
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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