Alpha Lipoic Acid
What is Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Alpha-lipoic acid is a vitamin-like chemical called an antioxidant. Yeast, liver, kidney, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes are good sources of alpha-lipoic acid. It is also made in the laboratory for use as medicine.
Alpha-lipoic acid is used for diabetes and nerve-related symptoms of diabetes including burning, pain, and numbness in the legs and arms. High doses of alpha-lipoic acid are approved in Germany for the treatment of these symptoms.
Some people use alpha-lipoic acid for memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), HIV/AIDS, cancer, liver disease, diseases of the heart and blood vessels (including a disorder called cardiac autonomic neuropathy) and Lyme disease.
Alpha-lipoic acid is also used to treat eye-related disorders, such as damage to the retina, cataracts, glaucoma, and an eye disease called Wilson’s disease.
What is Alpha Lipoic Acid Possibly Effective for?
Treating type 2 diabetes, when taken by mouth or given intravenously (by IV).
Diabetic nerve pain. Taking alpha-lipoic acid by mouth seems to improve symptoms such as burning, pain, and numbness in the legs and arms of people with diabetes. It may take 3 to 5 weeks of treatment for symptoms to improve.
Aging skin. Early research suggests that applying a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid to the face may reduce fine lines and roughness due to sun damage.
Dementia. Taking alpha-lipoic acid might slow down the decline of thinking skills in people with various kinds of dementia. But almost a year of treatment may be needed.
Leg pain when walking due to blood vessel disease. Early studies suggest alpha-lipoic acid might reduce pain in people with this condition, but doesn’t improve their ability to exercise.
Amanita mushroom poisoning. The use of alpha-lipoic acid in treating mushroom poisoning is controversial. You may have heard people say it works, but the science doesn’t support that. In fact, some researchers recommend against using alpha-lipoic acid for this purpose.
Alpha Lipoic Acid might help with Eye problems.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
