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The super antioxidant that thinks it's a vitamin
In the mitochondria (your cells' miniature power plants), lipoic acid labors side by side with B-1 (thiamin), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), and B-5 (pantothenic acid). The mitochondria converts glucose into the energy your body needs, and recycles glutathione, your body's most plentiful antioxidant.
Lipoic acid supplements tend to decrease blood sugar and increase energy. This is also some of the rationale behind its use to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes, as well as to boost energy.
Quick Facts About Lipoic Acid
- There is no RDA, but a suggested average intake of lipoic acid is 20 to 50 mg per day for healthy adults.
- Food sources of lipoic acid include liver, yeast, red meats, and greens.
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You May Need Lipoic Acid Supplements if You
- Don't eat a well-balanced diet
What Works Best -- and Worst -- with Lipoic Acid
- If you are a diabetic, your dosage of insulin or oral antidiabetic medications may need to be reevaluated by your doctor.
- Because it's an antioxidant, it naturally enhances vitamin C and E potency.
Product Forms Available
Individual supplements in capsules and tablets
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Lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing compound that your body produces. Chemically, it is C8H14O2S2.
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Lipoic acid appears to be an essential substance of your body. It plays an important role in the conversion of food into cellular energy. It also has an effective antioxidant quality, combating the free radicals that can damage your cells.
Lipoic acid supplementation is mainly considered helpful today for people who have diabetes.
If you are diabetic, lipoic acid supplementation may help you improve diabetic neuropathy. This compound may prevent or treat neurological complications stemming from diabetes. The antioxidant feature of lipoic acid has been said to combat the oxidative stress of diabetics, which contributes to the development of neurological disorders.
Lipoic acid may aid people with diabetes in other ways, as well. It may enhance blood sugar metabolism, diminish protein glycosylation, increase the flow of blood to the peripheral nerves, and incite the reformation of nerve fibers. By enhancing blood sugar metabolism, lipoic acid may amplify your sensitivity to insulin. Much more research is necessary to substantiate these claims.
Some speculation exists that lipoic acid may enhance your performance and endurance during regular exercise. As you exercise, your body uses more oxygen to produce energy. The more oxygen you use, the more lactic acid you produce. The accumulation of lactic acid levels leads to muscle fatigue. Lipoic acid helps convert your carbohydrates and protein into energy during exercise.
Some suggest that lipoic acid may benefit HIV-infected people. Antioxidants may slow viral replication. Many more studies are needed to help us to understand how this might work with HIV.
Advocates of Lipoic Acid Maintain It May Help
- Convert carbohydrates into energy
- Raise your glutathione level to provide extra antioxidant protection
- Treat diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
Storage
You should keep lipoic acid capsules and tablets in a cool, dry place, as you would with most other types of supplements.
Dosage and Administration
Because your body normally has an adequate amount of lipoic acid from a well-balanced diet, a healthy individual may not need to take lipoic acid supplements. However, people with certain conditions, such as diabetes or possibly HIV, may benefit from supplementation of this substance.
You may find lipoic acid supplements in capsules and tablets.
The dosage of lipoic acid depends on the disorder that you are trying to treat:
- As a general antioxidant: a common dosage is 20 to 50 milligrams per day, or as directed on the package.
- Diabetes: your doctor may recommend a dosage of 300 to 600 milligrams per day.
- HIV-positive: your doctor may recommended an amount of 450 milligrams per day.
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Warnings
Although it is relatively safe, people who have diabetes should closely monitor their blood sugar levels if they take lipoic acid supplements. Also, you may need to change your dosage of insulin or blood sugar-lowering medications if you are taking the supplement.
Do not take lipoic acid supplements without your physician's approval if you are diabetic or have HIV.
Side Effects
There have been no reported adverse effects from taking lipoic acid supplements. This substance appears to be quite safe. Lipoic acid supplements do not seem to be toxic. As safe as it is, you should still follow the dosages recommended by your physician.
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Sources & Further Reading
Books
1. Duke, James A. The Green Pharmacy. New York, New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 1997.
2. Murray, Michael. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996.
3. Murray, Michael. The Healing Power of Herbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1995.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
1. Natraj CV; Gandhi VM; Menon KKG. "Lipoic Acid and Diabetes: Effects of Dihydrolipoic Acid Administration in Diabetic Rats and Rabbits." Journal of Bioscience. 6:37-46. 1984.
2. Ohmori, H; Yamauchi, T; Yamamoto, I. "Augmentation of the antibody response by lipoic acid in mice. II. Restoration of the antibody response in immunosuppressed mice." Japanese Journal of Pharmacology. 42(2):275-80. Oct, 1986.
3. Sachse, G; Willms, B. "Efficacy of thioctic acid in the therapy of peripheral diabetic neuropathy." Hormone and Metabolic Research. Supplement. 9:105-7. 1980.
4. Shih, JC. "Atherosclerosis in Japanese quail and the effect of lipoic acid." Federation Proceedings. 42(8):2494-7. May 15, 1983.
5. Wagh SS; Natraj CV; and Menon KKG. "Mode of Action of Lipoic Acid in Diabetes." Journal of Bioscience. 11:50-74. 1987.
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