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Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural fatty acid compound that is produced by animals and plants. It is used in every human cell to help turn glucose into usable energy.
ALA is an antioxidant that helps other antioxidants to reactivate and become useful again. It can reactivate spent antioxidants, making them able to search out and neutralize additional radical agents. [2]
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM) states that without sufficient antioxidants in the body, over time, serious damage to tissues and organs can result.
This can make the body incapable of fighting off infection, and subsequently cause the development of aging and disease. [1]
Antioxidants like ALA help cells to resist and repair damage caused by various radical agents – like food additives, pesticides, environmental pollutants, and free radicals including superoxide. [1]
Unlike other antioxidants, ALA is soluble in both water and fats. For instance, vitamin C, another well-known antioxidant, is only soluble in water.
A third well-known antioxidant, vitamin E, is only able to be dissolved in fats. Being soluble in both makes ALA beneficial to all cells, tissues and organs. [2]
UMM points out that alpha lipoic acid is often confused with a heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid. Both of these compounds are commonly labeled ALA, increasing the confusion.
Anti- Oxidant
Blood Sugar
Anti- Aging- Neutralizes free radicals & oxidative damage
- Regulate blood glucoses levels
- Supports mitochondrial energy metabolism
Top Alpha Lipoic Acid* ❯Alpha Lipoic Acid Uses and Benefits
What is alpha lipoic acid good for? According to researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI), ALA demonstrates various pharmacological effects.
More specifically, alpha lipoic acid:
- Improves multiple neuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus
- Increases levels of the very important antioxidant glutathione
- Prevents toxicity with vitamin C and glutathione loss
- Lessens toxicities from heavy metal exposure
- Directly terminates free radicals
- Increases levels of vitamin C
- Improves glycemic control
According to these researchers “ALA may be an effective agent to ameliorate certain pathophysiologies of many chronic diseases.” [3]
Alpha Lipoic Acid Uses
NMCD (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database) states that alpha lipoic acid is used for various therapeutic purposes.
One of the most common uses for ALA is to treat symptoms and conditions related to diabetes mellitus. [4]
ALA is administered by doctors intravenously to improve the disposal of glucose and decrease resistance to insulin in those with type 2 diabetes.
It is used to lessen the stinging, burning, tingling and discomfort associated with peripheral diabetic neuropathy (nerve disease/dysfunction). [4]
Alpha lipoic acid is also used orally as a dietary supplement to promote longevity and as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of certain medical conditions.
Some of these include eye/vision disorders including glaucoma, retinopathy and cataracts. Other uses include treatment for HIV/AIDS, CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), PAD (peripheral artery disease), liver disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are other oral uses for ALA as well. [4]
While ALA has been researched for its effects on a number of health conditions, it is not approved by the FDA as a medicine to prevent or treat any conditions or symptoms.
Alpha Lipoic Acid for Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound when no noise is present. Commonly caused by age-related hearing loss and/or cardiovascular disease, it is often referred to as “ringing in the ears”.
According to Dr. John Gray, tinnitus results from the destruction of tiny hair cells inside the ears. He says that there are more than 15,000 of these cells in our ears, and they become damaged from various causes over time. [6]
Dr. Gray recommends using alpha lipoic acid in combination with an acetyl-L-carnitine to reverse tinnitus. Both are strong antioxidant compounds that may help to repair the damaged cells that cause hearing loss.
There is no clinical data that directly supports using alpha lipoic acid for tinnitus in humans. However, there is some evidence that antioxidant supplements in general might help to prevent and/or reverse different ear/hearing disorders.
Alpha Lipoic Acid for Skin:
Applied topically as a 5% cream, alpha lipoic acid is used to treat and prevent wrinkled skin, skins lines, skin roughness and damage from exposure to UV rays. [4]
It is an ingredient in a number of different skin remedies and is purported to help stimulate collagen production, promote skin lightening and support the regeneration of vitamins C and E in skin cells.
It has also been touted for its abilities to reduced free radical inflammation caused by sun exposure.
How to Use Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid dietary supplements are commonly available in oral capsules of 100 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, 300 mg and 600 mg serving sizes. It can also be purchased in the form of a bulk powder, time-release tablet, liquid formulation or a liposomal solution.
NMCD states that more than 2000 products contain ALA. As stated, it is also used as an intravenous (injection) medication by physicians.
NMCD states that doses between 600 mg and 1200 mg have been used daily, both orally and intravenously, to treat diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy. For PAD and intermittent claudication, 300 mg doses have been used twice daily.
There is no typical dosage for ALA. As with all dietary supplements, you should seek the advice of your primary healthcare provider before beginning to use alpha lipoic acid.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Side Effects
Alpha lipoic acid is generally well tolerated by healthy adults. However, there have been some reports of nausea and skin rash after oral administration.
Stinging and burning have resulted from topical application – and irritation at injection sites have been reported with intravenous administration.
Alpha lipoic acid uses in pregnancy
NMCD states that there is currently not enough data to rate the benefits and safety of ALA in pregnant or nursing women. Usage in these groups is not recommended until more is understood. There is also no reliable data concerning ALA use in children. Pediatric use is not recommended. [5]
NMCD states that ALA might interact with antidiabetic drugs, chemotherapy agents and thyroid hormone replacement medications.
ALA may also interact with certain health conditions including diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders and thiamine deficiency. Stop using alpha lipoic acid at least 2 weeks before any scheduled surgeries.
- University of Maryland Medical Center
- Linus Pauling Institute
- Smith AR1, Shenvi SV, Widlansky M, Suh JH, Hagen TM. Lipoic acid as a potential therapy for chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress. Curr Med Chem. 2004 May;11(9):1135-46.
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database
- Thom E1. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the clinical efficacy of oral treatment with DermaVite on ageing symptoms of the skin. J Int Med Res. 2005 May-Jun;33(3):267-72.
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
2 Comments
I may add that ALA taken in a 3/4 hour interval for several days (which count as a “round” based on the Cutler protocol) also works great as a chelation agent, specially for mercury poisoning. I use it as a chelation agent along with EDTA (IV) and when I´m not doing rounds I take 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night, and I must say I feel a difference in my energy and my general well being. As stated in this post, if you want more potent effects you should add or combine it with something other thing. Just my two cents.
Anyone interested in alpha-lipoic acid should read Dr. Burt Berkson’s book The Alpha-Lipoic Acid Breakthrough. I am a patient of Dr. Berkson’s and follow his protocols for both oral and IV alpha-lipoic acid supplementation. Dr. Berkson’s ALA regimen helped bring me back from decompensated liver cirrhosis to almost normal health in 18 months. I still have some symptoms and evidence of cirrhosis but have so much improved that I am able to live and work normally. Dr. Berkson emphasizes that not all ALA supplementation is equal and you should be careful that you get a pharmaceutical grade of of ALA with consistent dosages and that all ALA supplementation should be taken with B Complex vitamin supplementation. I personally take 900 mg orally each day and 600 mg IV 2 times a week and have experienced no adverse side effects or reactions other than restless legs.