5 Benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid or ALA Supplements

Supplements rich in antioxidants, like alpha lipoic acid, can have a positive influence and benefits to the body’s overall functioning.

Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to be able to absorb the damaging energy from cancer causing free radical molecules. This antioxidant molecule might have ancient roots, with its use being well documented in respirating bacteria.

As with all antioxidants, Alpha lipoic acid has anti-inflammatory and stress reducing effects on the body. Some health effects of alpha lipoic acid and supplementation with alpha lipoic acid include growth promotion, immune system stimulation and reductions in oxidative cell stress.

We will now discuss some of these benefits in more detail, covering 5 top benefits of supplementation with alpha lipoic acid.

Antioxidant Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid

ALA is not an antioxidant a lot of people have heard of, but alpha lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant. Alpha lipoic acid rich foods have a similar effect to vitamin E, in that it protects cell membrane fatty acids from oxidative reactions and degradation. ALA or alpha lipoic acid is also able to replenish other antioxidants in the body, supporting whole body system destressing.

This means that alpha lipoic acid has a number of functions in different organs throughout the body. Vitamin E and alpha lipoic acid are very complimentary antioxidants. Vitamin E has a lot of skin protective effects and alpha lipoic acid has been shown to protect the skin from ageing and sun damage when used appropriately.

Reduced form ALA, or DHLA, is a really powerful antioxidant form of ALA that is found in some dietary supplements. This is the form into which alpha lipoic develops when it becomes an antioxidant in the cells. DHLA is reported to be very similar in antioxidant power to glutathione.

Supplementing with alpha lipoic acid might help remove radicals and support normal oxidation processes in the body.

Body Detoxification

Supplementation with alpha lipoic acid may encourage higher overall antioxidant levels in the liver, such as glutathione, supporting healthy body detoxification. The liver is one of the main sites of body purification and this antioxidant recycling action supports whole body wellbeing. Alpha lipoic acid binds to toxic heavy metals like lead or mercury.

ALA may be able to bind to these within the body and help to remove them. This effect has been seen with aluminium in various organs and tissues. The antioxidant actions of alpha lipoic acid might mitigate the harmful local effects of heavy metals too.

Alpha lipoic acid also supports elevated levels of vitamin C and E, in a similar way to with glutathione. The health benefits of these effects could result in improved skin appearance, muscle condition, immune functioning and joint health. Supplements with alpha lipoic acid might encourage these effects in the body.

This can happen through upregulated collagen protein synthesis that happens with higher vitamin C levels. This may also be a way that ALA boosts growth. Collagen is essential for normal cell growth and development.

ALA Lean Growth Effects

ALA is also used in animal feedstock to boost growth, because of its potential to support the body’s natural energy producing and metabolic cycles. This effect has been observed in various species, suggesting some anciently conserved link. Alpha lipoic acid taken as a supplement might help to boost lean growth.

Alpha lipoic acid is fat and water soluble so is easily absorbable in your food. Your cells store and use ALA on a daily basis, especially in the mitochondria or the cell’s energy powerhouse. In children, alpha lipoic acid levels have been linked to the prevention of excess weight gain.

When certain levels of alpha lipoic acid are reached in the body, muscle cells respond and start to use fats and ketones for energy. This is called ketosis and this process can lead to rapid lean weight loss. Supplements containing alpha lipoic acid may encourage with process in the body.

Healthy Weight Management

Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to improve the rate of lean tissue development and could help healthy weight loss in the right conditions. This might be due to ALA’s antioxidant ability in conserving and protecting the use of certain fatty acid chain molecules for when they are needed for energy.

Produce from ALA supplemented animals has higher fat stability and shelf life than others.

At the very least, alpha lipoic acid must support energy metabolism. This has been shown by studies proving alpha lipoic acid directly supports mitochondrial energy production. Through ketosis, alpha lipoic acid also regulates ketone-based energy production in the muscle cells.

Oxidative damage to meat leads to nutrient loss and free radical generation. Alpha lipoic acid can help retain essential nutrients in our food and also in our own body tissues.

ALA & Obesity

Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to reduce appetite too, which also suggests this could be the case. ALA has been shown to directly support mitochondrial energy production, while also regulating ketosis in the muscles.

Some scientists believe that ALA supplementation might be an effective obesity treatment. Initial trials using ALA as a weight management supplement are finding positive results. When used with probiotics, ALA might be able to enhance weight loss. Alpha lipoic acid supplements might also benefit gut in reducing inflammation.

Cholesterol Levels

ALA has also been shown to support higher levels of HDL cholesterol in the body. Alpha lipoic acid was shown to support elevated levels of key antioxidants in the heart too. This shows that it might be able to improve heart health, in addition to circulatory health. Alpha lipoid acid or ALA supplementation might assist with maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels.

Antioxidants certainly play a role in maintaining a healthy circulatory system. Alpha lipoic acid studies have proven blood vessel plaque formation, implicated in strokes and heart attacks, is reduced with ALA.

Alpha lipoic acid might also be beneficial to body glucose use and supports healthy insulin levels, lowering risk of diabetes.

ALA & Brain Functioning

As we know the brain is full of fat and fatty acid tissue. Antioxidant compounds like ALA or alpha lipoic acid could help to support the stability of brain tissues and structures.

The blood brain barrier, normally protective of compounds it allows into the brain, lets alpha lipoic acid in. Some of the above effects may then also extend to brain use and functioning.

Some studies suggest that supplemental alpha lipoic acid may be able to influence the brain to enhance and protect function in people who suffer from degenerative brain diseases.

There are suggestions that alpha lipoic acid could assist with recovery of brain tissues after injury or with radical caused brain disorders. Supplemental antioxidants, like alpha lipoic acid, could support brain recovery. Glutathione is really important in the brain. Alpha lipoic acid can assist with the cycling of this key neuroprotective antioxidant.

Many brain disorders are also attributed to oxidative damage and alpha lipoic acid could support positive health effects in reducing or preventing those damages. For example, in Parkinson’s disease glutathione becomes heavily depleted and alpha lipoic acid could support improved outcomes.

Conclusion

Alpha lipoic acid has various potential benefits as a nutritional supplement. The base of this forms around specific antioxidant activities within the cell, particularly within cellular energy production. It is active as an antioxidant in the reduced form in the body.

A lot of studies have been focused around the resulting benefits of alpha lipoic acid on the circulatory system and in heart health. Alpha lipoic acid seems to improve levels of HDL or good cholesterol, while being touted as a weight control supplement by some scientists.

Alpha lipoic acid seems to be able to restore the antioxidant reserves and potential of other key body antioxidants including glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E. This could give ALA or alpha lipoic acid influence on health outcomes such as brain injury recovery, prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, body cleansing through the liver and skin appearance.

Alpha lipoic acid protects fatty acids from oxidation, functioning very similarly to vitamin E. It has an important role in protecting the structure of cell membranes. When used appropriately it could protect against sun caused skin damage. A combination of effects from alpha lipoic acid could result in the improved lean growth seen in various animal studies.

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