Alpha-lipoic acid: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Lipoic acid
Scientific name(s)
alpha-lipoic acid
Family or group:
Pseudovitamins
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Diabetic neuropathy ✪✪✪✪✪
Alpha-lipoic acid improves symptoms of diabetic neuropathy such as pain, tingling, numbness and physical impairments within 3 to 5 weeks of treatment.
Posologie
Oral
600 - 1200 mg
6 - months
Adults
Treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid): A 2-year, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ALADIN II).
Oral treatment with alpha-lipoic acid improves symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy: the SYDNEY 2 trial.
[Efficacy and safety of high-dose a-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy]
Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid: A 7-month, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (ALADIN III Study).
Obesity ✪✪✪✪✪
In overweight or obese patients, taking alpha-lipoic acid promotes weight loss and a reduction in body mass index by stimulating the body's energy metabolism.
Posologie
Oral
300 mg
Adults
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to alpha-lipoic acid and protection of body lipids from oxidative damage (ID 1434, 3134), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 3134), increased beta-oxidation of fatty acids (ID 3134), maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations (ID 1435, 3162), and "regeneration of genes, regeneration of gene transcription and the influence on the activity of NF-kappa B" (ID 3133) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as a supplement for weight loss: results from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in obesity treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Oxidative stress ✪✪✪✪✪
Exogenous alpha-lipoic acid and its metabolite dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) have antioxidant activity and can scavenge free radicals both intracellularly and extracellularly. In addition, alpha-lipoic acid is both water- and fat-soluble and can regenerate endogenous antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and glutathione, thereby preventing tissue and neuronal damage caused by oxidative stress such as cerebral ischemia, brain injury caused by excitotoxic amino acids, mitochondrial dysfunction, muscle ischemia associated with peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, and diabetic neuropathy. The antioxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid may also be beneficial in liver diseases associated with oxidative stress.
Posologie
Orally
300 - 600 mg
Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and serum lipid profile levels in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
Oral antioxidants and cardiovascular health in the exercise-trained and untrained elderly: a radically different outcome.
Assessment of the antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy men exposed to muscle-damaging exercise.
Wrinkles ✪✪✪✪✪
Applying a night cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid would reduce the appearance of fine lines and damage caused by sun exposure. Another study highlights improvements in skin elasticity and thickness indicators after oral intake of ALA together with vitamins, minerals, and a maritime pine extract.
Posologie
Topical, oral
Adults
Type 2 diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of 16 small clinical studies in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that daily intake of 200 to 1,200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid for up to 52 weeks leads to a slight improvement in glycemic measures, which is not clinically significant. Compared with placebo, alpha-lipoic acid reduced fasting glucose by 6 mg/dL, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.17%, and triglyceride levels by 19 mg/dL.
Posologie
Oral
200 - 1,200 mg
52 - weeks
Adults
Enhancement of glucose disposal in patients with type 2 diabetes by alpha-lipoic acid.
Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to alpha-lipoic acid and protection of body lipids from oxidative damage (ID 1434, 3134), maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations (ID 3134), increased beta-oxidation of fatty acids (ID 3134), maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations (ID 1435, 3162), and "regeneration of genes, regeneration of gene transcription and the influence on NF-kappa B activity" (ID 3133) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006
Oral administration of RAC-alpha-lipoic acid modulates insulin sensitivity in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, pilot trial.
Glycemic and oxidative status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation effect on glycemic and inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on blood glucose, insulin resistance, and glutathione peroxidase in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Improvement of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in type 2 diabetes after repeated parenteral administration of thioctic acid.
Alpha-lipoic acid treatment decreases serum lactate and pyruvate concentrations and improves glucose effectiveness in lean and obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
The effects of lipoic acid and a-tocopherol supplementation on the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Metabolic syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
The increase in inflammatory markers, particularly TNF-α, may promote insulin resistance and alter cytokine expression in adipose tissues, which is considered an important link between metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. ALA supplementation can reduce inflammatory markers by scavenging free radicals. The results of a meta-analysis indicate that ALA supplementation significantly reduced levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (inflammatory markers) in patients diagnosed with metabolic disorders.
Posologie
Oral administration
300 - 600 mg
The effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammatory markers among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Effects of alpha lipoic acid supplementation on serum lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Dyslipidemia ✪✪✪✪✪
A meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials shows that daily intake of 300 to 1200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid for up to 16 weeks decreases total cholesterol by 10.2 mg/dL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 9.2 mg/dL.
Posologie
Oral administration
300 - 1200 mg
Does alpha-lipoic acid affect lipid profile? A meta-analysis and systematic review on randomized controlled trials
Safety and Efficacy of Alpha Lipoic Acid During 4 Years of Observation: A Retrospective, Clinical Trial in Healthy Subjects in Primary Prevention
Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation affects serum lipids in a dose- and duration-dependent manner in individuals with different health statuses
Cardiovascular diseases ✪✪✪✪✪
One study showed that ALA supplementation improves vascular tone and may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health in young overweight or obese subjects.nnOther preliminary clinical research shows that taking 300 mg of ALA twice a day reduces exercise-associated pain in people with peripheral artery disease of the lower limbs (a disease that affects the arteries of the leg) compared with placebo. However, exercise tolerance does not appear to be improved. nn
Posologie
Oral
600 mg
Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Endothelial Function and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight/Obese Youths: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial
Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: a pilot study
Properties
Antioxidant
The antioxidant properties of alpha-lipoic acid (AAL) lie in its ability to scavenge free radicals and to regenerate endogenous antioxidants: glutathione and vitamins C and E. AAL can protect lipids against oxidative damage and may also help maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.
Usages associés
Bioenergetic
Alpha-lipoic acid plays an important role in burning fats to produce energy, and in the transport of fatty acids across the mitochondrial membranes (cellular organelle), where they are oxidized and converted into energy.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Alpha-lipoic acid modulates the inflammatory response and can inhibit vascular inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect has also been correlated in several studies with a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (small proteins secreted by inflammatory cells) such as TNF-alpha and IL-6.
Usages associés
Hypoglycemic
Alpha-lipoic acid helps lower blood glucose levels and regulate insulin resistance. In addition, it has been shown to be effective in protecting against protein glycation (a natural reaction caused by excessively high concentrations of sugars in the blood, as occurs in diabetes), and helps regulate the damage caused by advanced glycation end products. These glycation-derived products are highly harmful to the body, accumulate with age, and thus contribute to the development of several diseases such as atherosclerosis, nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy.
Usages associés
Anti-aging
Alpha-lipoic acid has shown positive effects in combating certain forms of oxidation and inflammation, which among other things helps protect against age-associated neurological decline. Alpha-lipoic acid is also a powerful antioxidant and, from this perspective, is considered an anti-aging ally.
Usages associés
Chelator
Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to chelate heavy metals. In animal research, alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to increase the hepatobiliary excretion of inorganic mercury by forming a stable complex.
Anticancer
Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in human colon cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, ALA has demonstrated antimutagenic activities in tumorigenic cellular models in animals and humans, including breast cancer, melanoma, ovarian epithelial cancer and colon cancer, by inhibiting inflammatory mediators, DNA fragmentation and metastasis.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults aged 18 years and older: 200 mg - 1200 mg
By oral administration, alpha-lipoic acid is very well tolerated in humans up to a dose of 1200 mg/day and with treatment durations up to 4 weeks.; It can also be applied topically for 12 weeks.
Interactions
Médicaments
Anticancer drugs: moderate interaction
The use of alpha-lipoic acid during chemotherapy is controversial. Indeed, antioxidants could reduce the activity of chemotherapy (including cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, carmustine, busulfan and thiotepa) by generating free radicals. However, some researchers have hypothesized that antioxidants could make chemotherapy more effective by reducing oxidative stress that may interfere with the apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells.
Antidiabetic drugs: weak interaction
Theoretically, the use of alkylating agents can cause hypoglycemic effects in a person with diabetes.
Hormones: moderate interaction
Theoretically, administering alpha-lipoic acid with thyroid hormone-based medications reduces their therapeutic effects.
Plantes ou autres actifs
Hypoglycemic: weak interaction
In theory, alpha-lipoic acid could have additive effects with plants that lower blood glucose levels. Herbs with a hypoglycemic effect include devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, and Siberian ginseng.nn
Precautions
Type 2 diabetes: use with caution
Alpha-lipoic acid should be used with caution in people with diabetes. Indeed, it has a blood-sugar-lowering effect.
Surgical intervention: avoid
Theoretically, alpha-lipoic acid could cause excessive bleeding or interfere with blood glucose control if used perioperatively.
Contraindications
Children up to 12 years: prohibited
Alpha-lipoic acid is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
Pregnancy: prohibited
Alpha-lipoic acid is not recommended during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding: prohibited
Due to lack of studies, avoid using lipoic acid while breastfeeding.
Vitamin B1 deficiency: prohibited
Alpha-lipoic acid should not be used in cases of thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1 deficiency in alcoholics, for example), unless this deficiency is treated.
