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Alpha-Lipoic Acid - is a powerful antioxidant. It has the unique ability to deactivate both fat and water soluble free radicals. Antioxidants help prevent oxidative damage in your body which can be helpful for a number of clinical conditions but is also good for maintaining longevity and general well-being. Alpha-lipoic acid is particularly useful for diabetic neuropathy and decreasing insulin resistance in diabetes 1,2. It also is used for people with HIV 3, to decrease the viral load. It has also bee used effectively for altitude sickness.4 It can also be used as a chelator, a substance that helps detoxify heavy metals out of the body. 5 ALA may increase secretion of copper or other minerals because it has metal chelating effects. Make sure to take a good multi with long-term use of alpha-lipoic acid.
References
1. PMID: 15529636; Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of autonomic diabetic neuropathy (controlled, randomized, open-label study). Rom J Intern Med. 2004;42(2):457-64.
2. PMID: 12610036; The sensory symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy are improved with alpha-lipoic acid: the SYDNEY trial. Diabetes Care. 2003 Mar;26(3):770-6. Erratum in: Diabetes Care. 2003 Jul;26(7):2227.
3. PMID: 1482376; Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappa B activation in human T cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1992 Dec 30;189(3):1709-15.
4. PMID: 11252695; Acute mountain sickness; prophylactic benefits of antioxidant vitamin supplementation at high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 2001 Spring;2(1):21-9.
5.PMID: 7605337; Thioctic (lipoic) acid: a therapeutic metal-chelating antioxidant? Biochem Pharmacol. 1995 Jun 29;50(1):123-6.
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