Alpha Lipoic Acid

About Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid, also called thioctic acid, is a sulfur containing fatty acid derivative with a ring holding two sulfur atoms. It was isolated in the early 1950s and is synthesized in mitochondria from octanoic acid, where it serves as an essential protein bound cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. It exists as R and S forms. The R form occurs naturally, while synthetic supplements usually contain a mixture of both. Free alpha lipoic acid and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid, are soluble in both water and fat, chelate metals, and can regenerate antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. Small amounts occur in organ meats, spinach, and broccoli. Its best studied use is diabetic peripheral neuropathy, for which it is prescribed in parts of Europe and where trials report symptom improvement. Studies of insulin sensitivity and weight loss show modest or inconsistent findings, and its use for heavy metal detoxification is controversial. A rare insulin autoimmune syndrome has been linked to it in genetically susceptible people.