ALA is a dietary supplement with high-quality alpha-lipoic acid, designed for those who want to improve heart, visceral and liver functions, as well as improve the overall health of the?body. ALA also protects the body from all the negative effects of oxidation.

Alpha lipoic acid is considered the antioxidant of antioxidants or universal antioxidant.

? One of the most effective antioxidants

? Active participation in the detoxification process

? Intensifies?the benefits of training

? Good?solubility in water and fats

? Neutralization of oxygen free radicals

? Used to prevent cardiovascular diseases

Alpha lipoic acid is also known as ALA, thioctic acid or simply lipoic acid. Its chemical name is 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid. Lipoic acid is a fatty acid that contains two thiol (sulfur) groups.

It is a powerful antioxidant that also intervenes as a cofactor in mitochondrial reactions in which glucose is converted into energy, such as during the Krebs cycle and during the catabolism of alpha keto acids or amino acids. Part of the consumption of alpha lipoic acid can be ingested through food and a certain amount can be synthesized by the body itself.

Unlike other antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid has the ability to act in both a fatty and aqueous environment. This characteristic gives it a great advantage over other antioxidants.

In addition to being an antioxidant in itself, lipoic acid has secondary antioxidant effects:

Alpha lipoic acid increases levels of endogenous antioxidants such as glutathione and coenzyme Q10. Like the original form, the reduced form of alpha lipoic acid, called dehydrolipoic acid (DHLA), also has antioxidant power and is capable of regenerating vitamin C and Vitamin E that have been oxidized. Therefore, alpha lipoic acid is considered the antioxidant of antioxidants or universal antioxidant. Furthermore, ALA reduces the production of cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors.

Alpha lipoic acid can have two different isomers, R-lipoic acid and S-lipoic acid. Naturally, alpha lipoic acid is found in its R form attached to the protein, while in supplements, lipoic acid is normally found in free form. You can find commercial forms that contain only the R-lipoic acid form or combined forms of R and S. It appears that the R form is more biologically active and is absorbed to a greater extent. Even so, most of the studies carried out used combined forms, obtaining many good results.

In Germany, lipoic acid has been used for decades by diabetic people, especially to prevent neurovascular disorders. Its antioxidant capacity protects pancreatic cells and is capable of stimulating the uptake of glucose in muscles, improving insulin sensitivity and helping to control blood glucose levels. Studies seem to indicate that the R-lipoic acid form is also more effective in improving insulin sensitivity.

Under normal conditions, low levels of lipoic acid do not appear, however, some pathologies such as diabetes, cirrhosis or atherosclerosis present low levels of this compound, as well as in elderly people.

The foods with the highest alpha lipoic acid content are: liver, kidneys and red meat. It can also be found in yeast, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli or peas.

Despite this, the amounts present in food are very low and have not been shown to significantly increase the levels of alpha lipoic acid in the body, so to enhance its effects on health it is necessary to consume it in the form of a food supplement. The use of dietary supplements (200-600mg ALA) can multiply the amounts ingested with the diet by 1000.

Benefits of your contribution

Diabetes and glucose control.

One of the potential indications for lipoic acid is diabetes. Alpha lipoic acid improves insulin response and sensitivity, is capable of protecting proteins from glycosylation, as well as inhibiting the conversion of glucose and galactose into sorbitol. The accumulation of sorbitol is responsible for some of the pathologies observed in diabetic patients, such as cataracts.

The effectiveness of lipoic acid has been proven in several studies on type 2 diabetic patients and many good results have been obtained. In addition to its effects on blood glucose, ALA protects against renal vascular damage, reduces symptoms of neuropathy, and improves nerve function. On the other hand, it is believed that its great activity in protecting nerve cells is due to its soluble capacity, both in fat and in water, allowing it to reach areas of the nerves that are inaccessible and protect them against oxidation.

Metabolism.

The effects of lipoic acid go further in relation to type 2 diabetes and several studies propose it as a prevention of this pathology to prevent changes in the metabolic system.

Alpha lipoic acid has been used satisfactorily in obese people, reducing body weight by up to 8%, improving body composition, reducing waist-to-hip ratio and also blood pressure. Probably thanks to improved insulin sensitivity and increased adiponectin. Adiponectin is considered anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic and is normally reduced in people with insulin resistance such as obese people, type 2 diabetics or metabolic syndrome.

Muscular system and sports performance.

With age, mitochondrial mass decreases, and with it the body’s ability to produce energy. As a consequence, cell mass decreases and the production of free radicals increases.

Lipoic acid consumption increases mitochondrial activity, reduces peroxidation and improves energy production. This quality can be used both to prevent the loss of muscle mass and to ensure optimal mitochondrial function in younger people with the aim of ensuring optimal muscle function.

People who suffer from myopathies with mitochondrial alterations can also improve exercise tolerance using ALA.