Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in the body. ALA is often referred to as the “universal antioxidant.” It serves vital functions at the cellular level, such as energy production and protecting your cells from damage. The body has the ability to produce all the ALA needed, as long it’s healthy. Alpha lipoic acid is found in other organic sources, such as red meat, organ meat (liver, heart, kidney, etc.), broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, brussels sprouts, and yeast. Once administered, the human body absorbs alpha lipoic acid rapidly and distributes it throughout the heart, liver, and skeletal muscles.

Is Alpha Lipoic Acid Used for Weight Loss and Energy?

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that is both water and fat-soluble. This means that it works inside and outside of the body to destroy harmful free radicals. It further strengthens the body’s defenses by recycling and enhancing other antioxidants in the body, such as vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, and glutathione. ALA works within the mitochondria, or powerhouse, of the cell and is a vital part of the conversion of glucose to energy. Naturally, glucose requires insulin to get into the cells. ALA mimics insulin, improving both glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. This simply means that more glucose is transported into the cells rather than being stored as fat.

ALA also improves the conversion of carbs to energy, which means fewer carbohydrates are stored as fat cells. It is shown that when taken in combination with a calorie-controlled diet, Alpha lipoic acid supplementation has the potential to boost weight loss.

In early 2015, the Obesity journal published a study that involved 77 overweight women who were placed into four different groups. Group 1 was given a placebo, Group 2 was given 1300mg of EPA (an omega-3 fatty acid), Group 3 was given 300 mg of ALA, and Group 4 was given a combination of EPA and ALA. All women were required to follow a reduced-calorie diet throughout the 10-week trial. Results showed that 300mg of ALA per day combined with a calorie-restricted diet was most effective at reducing weight and fat mass, with an average of 15 lbs. lost within those 10 weeks.