ALA - Alpha Lipoic Acid

​Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant, made by the body and found in every cell. One of its most important characteristics is that, unlike most anti-oxidants, it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble. This enables it to provide protection in a much wider range of physiological environments throughout the body. There is naturally very little free circulating ALA in the body, meaning that supplementation is necessary in order to experience ALA’s full benefits.  The SYDNEY Trial Study Group found that patients with nerve damage caused by diabetes experienced statistically significant improvement in sensory symptoms (such as pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness) after undergoing intravenous alpha-lipoic acid therapy. These results were not achieved with oral supplementation.  Research has shown that ALA is also significant for cancer patients. ALA has the power to modify and regulate genetic expression, causing genes that spur the development of cancer to be turned off.
Conditions Regularly Treated:
  • Cancer Recovery
  • Neuropathy
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Liver Disease
Clinical Research
Ametov AS, et al. The sensory symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy are improved with alpha-lipoic acid: the SYDNEY trial. Diabetes Care. 2003 Mar;26(3):770-6.
Baur A, Harrer T, Peukert M, Jahn G, Kalden JR, Fleckenstein B. Alphalipoic acid is an effective inhibitor of human immuno-deficiency virus(HIV-1) replication. Klin Wochenschr 1991;69:722-724.
Filatova NA, et al. Decrease in tumorigenic activity of murine hepatoma cells after treatment with antioxidants and melatonin. Tsitologiia. 2011;53(5):404-10.
Ho YS, et al. Dihydrolipoic acid inhibits skin tumor promotion through anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Biochem Pharmacol. 2007 Jun 1;73(11):1786-95. Epub 2006 Dec 10.
Jacob S, Henriksen EJ, Schiemann AL, et al. Enhancement of glucose disposal in patients with Type 2 diabetes by alpha-lipoic acid. Arzneimittelforschung 1995;45:872-874.
Kennedy AR, et al. Suppression of the later stages of radiation-induced carcinogenesis by antioxidant dietary formulations. Radiat Res. 2011 Jul;176(1): 62-70. Epub 2011 Apr 26.
Mythili Y, et al. Cytoprotective role of DL-alpha-lipoic acid in cyclophosphamideinduced myocardial toxicity. Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Aug;276(1-2):39 44.
Nagamatsu M, Nickander KK, Schmelzer JD, et al. Lipoic acid improves nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress, and improves distal nerve conduction in experimental diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care 1995;18:1160-1167.
Ou P, Tritschler HJ, Wolff SP. Thioctic (lipoic) acid: A therapeutic metalchelating antioxidant.Biochem Pharmacol 1995;50:123-126.
Packer L, Witt EH, Tritschler HJ. Alpha-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med 1995;19:227-250.
Packer L. Antioxidant properties of lipoic acid and its therapeutic effects in prevention of diabetes complications and cataracts. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994;738:257-264.
Scott BC, Aruoma OI, Evans PJ, et al. Lipoic and dihydrolipoic acids as antioxidants. A critical evaluation. Free Radic Res 1994;20:119-133.
Suzuki YJ, Tsuchiya M, Packer L. Lipoate prevents glucose-induced protein modifications. Free Radic Res Commun 1995;17:211-217.