Alpha Lipoic Acid - Sanctuary Functional Medicine

Alpha lipoic acid is another supplement with multiple benefits. It begins as an anti-oxidant which can lower lipid peroxides, continues as a metal detoxifier, acts as a mitochondrial enhancer, and serves to recycle glutathione.
Anti-oxidant: Alpha lipoic acid serves to recycle other anti-oxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Whereas the latter work in either fatty membranes or the watery portions respectively, alpha lipoic acid operates in both. With its anti-oxidant ability, it can lower lipid peroxides, the oxidized forms of fatty acids which lead to cellular aging and chronic disease.
Metals Detoxification: By chelating metals, alpha lipoic acid prevents these toxins from producing oxidative stress upon other cellular materials. Manganese, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, and iron are included in those chelated.
Mitochondrial: Whether due to aging or primary mitochondrial disorders, alpha lipoic acid offers benefits. For aging and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, it can slow or reverse mitochondrial dysfunction.
Glutathione recycling: As a specific extension of its anti-oxidative properties, alpha lipoic acid serves to recycle glutathione (the key intra-cellular anti-oxidant). Alpha lipoic acid reduces oxidized glutathione so that the glutathione is able to continue its important work.

Diabetic Neuropathy

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Alpha lipoic Acid for symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
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Gomes, Marilia Brito and Carlos Antonio Negrato. “Alpha-lipoic acid as a pleiotropic compound with potential therapeutic use in diabetes and other chronic diseases” Diabetology & metabolic syndrome vol. 6,1 80. 28 Jul. 2014, doi:10.1186/1758-5996-6-80

Ziegler D, Hanefeld M, Ruhnau KJ, Meissner HP, Lobisch M, Schütte K, Gries FA. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy with the anti-oxidant alpha-lipoic acid. A 3-week multicentre randomized controlled trial (ALADIN Study) Diabetologia. 1995;38(12):1425–1433. doi: 10.1007/BF00400603.

Reljanovic M, Reichel G, Rett K, Lobisch M, Schuette K, Möller W, Tritschler HJ, Mehnert H. 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. 1999;31(3):171–179. doi: 10.1080/10715769900300721.

Ziegler D, Hanefeld M, Ruhnau KJ, Hasche H, Lobisch M, Schütte K, Kerum G, Malessa R. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid: a 7-month multicenter randomized controlled trial (ALADIN III Study). ALADIN III Study Group. Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy. Diabetes Care. 1999;22(8):1296–1301. doi: 10.2337/diacare.22.8.1296.

Ruhnau KJ, Meissner HP, Finn JR, Reljanovic M, Lobisch M, Schütte K, Nehrdich D, Tritschler HJ, Mehnert H, Ziegler D. Effects of 3-week oral treatment with the antioxidant thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) in symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy. Diabet Med. 1999;16(12):1040–1043. doi: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.1999.00190.x.

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Ziegler D, Ametov A, Barinov A, Dyck PJ, Gurieva I, Low PA, Munzel U, Yakhno N, Raz I, Novosadova M, Maus J, Samigullin R. Oral treatment with alpha-lipoic acid improves symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy: the SYDNEY 2 trial. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(11):2365–2370. doi: 10.2337/dc06-1216.

Ziegler D, Low PA, Litchy WJ, Boulton AJ, Vinik AI, Freeman R, Samigullin R, Tritschler H, Munzel U, Maus J, Schütte K, Dyck PJ. Efficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with α-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trial. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(9):2054–2060. doi: 10.2337/dc11-0503.

Ziegler D, Nowak H, Kempler P, Vargha P, Low PA. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid: a meta-analysis. Diabet Med. 2004;21(2):114–121. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01109.x.

Antixodant:
Kempaiah RK, Srinivasan K. Ann Nutr Metab 2004;48:314-320.

Metals Detoxification:
Altern Med Rev. 2002 Dec;7(6):456-71.
Mercury toxicity and antioxidants: Part 1: role of glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of mercury toxicity. Patrick L.
(This article is a repository of numerous other related articles)

Mech Ageing Dev. 2010 Jul-Aug;131(7-8):473-9

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The effects and mechanisms of mitochondrial nutrient alpha-lipoic acid on improving age-associated mitochondrial and cognitive dysfunction: an overview.
Liu J1.

Neurochem Res. 2007 Sep;32(9):1552-8. Epub 2007 May 3.
Mitochondrial ageing and the beneficial role of alpha-lipoic acid.
Palaniappan AR1, Dai A.

Barbiroli B, Medori R, Tritschler HJ, Klopstock T, Seibel P, Reichmann H, et al. Lipoic (thioctic) acid increases brain energy availability and skeletal muscle performance as shown by in vivo 31P-MRS in a patient with mitochondrial cytopathy. J Neurol 1995;242:472-7.

Glutathione recycling:
Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;22(1-2):359-78. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Packer L1, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K.

Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more… offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.