Natural Healing Center Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid

What is Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA)

An Antioxidant
Alpha-lipoic acid, sometimes called lipoic acid, is an antioxidant produced in the body. It is found in every cell and helps turn glucose into energy. Antioxidants fight “free-radicals” which are harmful chemical reactions that damage cells in the body, making it harder for the body to fight off infections while they also damage organs and tissues.

Fat and Water Soluble
Antioxidants such as vitamin C are water soluble and vitamin E are fat soluble, but alpha-lipoic acid is both fat and water soluble. This means it can work easily throughout the body. Antioxidants are used up in the body as they attack free radicals, but evidence suggests that alpha-lipoic acid helps recharge these antioxidants, making them usable over and over again.

Not To Be Confused
Beware that Alpha-lipoic acid and alpha linolenic acid, (an omega-3 fatty acid that may help heart health) are not the same. There is confusion between the two because they both are sometimes abbreviated ALA.

What Can Alpha-Lipoic Acid Help

                                                      Diabetes
alpha lipoic acid bottleSeveral studies suggest that alpha-lipoic acid helps lower blood sugar levels. Its ability to kill free radicals may also help people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy — which causes pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness in arms and legs due to nerve damage.  Researchers believe Alpha-lipoic acid helps improve insulin sensitivity. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years to treat peripheral neuropathy in Germany. However, most studies have found that its benefits were due to having used intravenous (IV) alpha-lipoic acid.  

At Natural Healing Center, we administer ALA via IV — for better absorption.

Brain Function Issues

Because Alpha-lipoic acid easily passes into the brain, it may help protect brain and nerve tissues. Researchers are investigating it as a treatment for stroke and other brain function issues, such as dementia.