Detailed Guide: What Are the Health Benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid

Learn the complete list of all the health benefits of alpha lipoic acid in our bodies which is one of the very important organosulfur compounds.

Introduction:

Also known by the names thioctic acid, and alpha-lipoic acid (α-lipoic acid, and ALA), is an organosulfur compound and holds the status of extreme importance for us. It has a strong influence on aerobic metabolism and is also identified to act as an antioxidant. It is synthesized by animals (including humans) and plants and acts as an important co-factor when it comes to mitochondrial multienzyme complexes.

The prime function of this acid is to act as an antioxidant and catalyzer in our cells and is found in almost every cell of our bodies. It is also directly involved in the conversion of glucose into energy. Our cells can produce free radicals which are unwanted cells and waste products as the body converts food into energy. These unwanted products are dealt with by antioxidants in which thioctic acid is one of them.

This acid is derived from octanoic acid and contains two sulfur and two thiols (sulfur groups) in its molecular structure. You can intake it from supplements or a regular diet as in vegetables including potatoes, broccoli, beets, carrots, and spinach, and also from red meat. It should be noted that if you are healthy, you don’t need to eat a special diet just for this acid as our bodies are capable of making enough alpha-lipoic acid.

Health benefits of alpha lipoic acid

1. One of the most prevalent benefits of this acid is in the treatment of diabetic nerve pain in diabetic patients, also termed diabetic neuropathy. Its regular oral dosage is reported to improve conditions of pain and numbness in the legs and arms of people with diabetes. It does that by Increasing antioxidant defenses in such patients, and also improves blood sugar in them.

2. Alpha lipoic acid is very important in its role as an enzyme cofactor. It catalyzes important processes involved in the breaking down of amino acids which results in the synthesis of energy for our bodies. In every multienzyme complex, at least one protein has a particular lysine residue that lipoic acid is covalently bonded to, making it an extremely important agent for our body's normal working. 

3. It is reported to help cholesterol in humans and also reduce obesity in adults with increased weight by countering excessive fats stored in the body. It does that by increasing energy expenditure in our cells which further promotes fat metabolism resulting in weight loss.

4. Glaucoma may be treated with alpha-lipoic acid. This condition is shown to be related to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. With this acid as an anti-oxidant, the human body is enabled to regenerate other antioxidants as well including glutathione and vitamins C and E. All these help fight against this condition. It is shown studied to help protect retinal ganglion cells in our eyes. This is also one of the major health benefits of alpha lipoic acid.

5. A lotion containing 5% lipoic acid significantly lessens fine wrinkles caused by UV exposure on aged skin. According to studies, ALA binds to harmful metals that behave as free radicals.

6. As an antioxidant, it can deal with many harmful elements which can damage our normal cell growth. These elements include arsenic, mercury, iron, and other metals with which this acid binds itself to remove them from the body. It is also found to help fight cancer in humans.

7. It is also found to be helpful in numerous other health conditions including erectile dysfunction and ear infections. Earlier studies have shown that it can help increase blood flow leading to better endothelial function and can potentially benefit patients with the condition of ED. Although backed by limited research, it is also shown to have antibacterial properties and to reduce inflammation resulting in fighting against infections in ears.

Wrapping Up:

To conclude the post, we can state that the health benefits of alpha lipoic acid are quite many its role against nerve pain is the most significant one. Other benefits include reducing obesity, excessive blood fat or cholesterol levels, aging skin, eye conditions, and many other ailments. Many of its benefits are still under research and the above article is based on early results.