Byun, C. H., Koh, J. M., Kim, D. K., Park, S. I., Lee, K. U., and Kim, G. S. alpha-Lipoic Acid Inhibits TNF-alpha-Induced Apoptosis in Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells. J Bone Miner.Res 2005;20(7):1125-1135. View abstract.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Weight Loss, Other Benefits and Side Effects

While there are many alpha lipoic acid benefits, there are some considerations as well. For instance: Both human and lab studies suggest that alpha-lipoic acid slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by neutralizing free radicals and suppressing inflammation ( 24, 25, 26). Hahm, J. R., Kim, B. J., and Kim, K. W. Clinical experience with thioctacid (thioctic acid) in the treatment of distal symmetric polyneuropathy in Korean diabetic patients. J Diabetes Complications 2004;18(2):79-85. View abstract. Some other alpha-lipoic acid supplements may be GMO or soy-free. However, the vast majority already are, so don’t consider bottles marked with these aspects as particularly better than their competitors.

Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat. We identified those studies in the literature in which the effectiveness of alpha lipoic acid as a treatment for neuropathic pain was evaluated. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid, is a naturally occurring short chain fatty acid which contains a thiol bond ( 6). It is an essential cofactor for energy production in the mitochondria ( 7). ALA is also a powerful antioxidant and a free radical scavenger ( 6, 8, 9). ALA is marketed in the US as an over-the-counter nutritional antioxidant supplement, alone or in combination with other antioxidants. In medicine, ALA has been shown to reduce symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy, and several clinical trials established some efficacy and an excellent safety profile in this patient population ( 10- 15). When taken by mouth: Alpha-lipoic acid is possibly safe for most adults when taken for up to 4 years. It is usually well-tolerated. The most common side effects are headache, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

Alpha Lipoic Acid | Pure Encapsulations® Alpha Lipoic Acid | Pure Encapsulations®

Chaparro, L. E., Wiffen, P. J., Moore, R. A., and Gilron, I. Combination pharmacotherapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Database.Syst.Rev. 2012;7:CD008943. View abstract. Nebbioso, M., Federici, M., Rusciano, D., Evangelista, M., and Pescosolido, N. Oxidative stress in preretinopathic diabetes subjects and antioxidants. Diabetes Technol.Ther 2012;14(3):257-263. View abstract. When applied to the skin: Alpha-lipoic acid is possibly safe for most adults when used as a cream for up to 12 weeks. It might cause a rash in some people. Pregnancy: When taken by mouth, alpha-lipoic acid is possibly safe. It's been used safely during pregnancy in doses of up to 600 mg daily for up to 4 weeks. Jameel, N. M., Shekhar, M. A., and Vishwanath, B. S. Alpha-lipoic acid: an inhibitor of secretory phospholipase A2 with anti-inflammatory activity. Life Sci 12-14-2006;80(2):146-153. View abstract. Najm, W. and Lie, D. Herbals used for diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Prim.Care 2010;37(2):237-254. View abstract.When alpha-lipoic acid is taken orally, it can improve symptoms such as numbness, pain, and burning in the arms and legs of people who have diabetes. The symptoms need a period of about 3-5 weeks to show signs of improvement ( 2 ).