Alpha-lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid or just lipoic acid, is one of the most potent antioxidants known. It is a very popular ingredient in many weight-loss supplements because it is thought to make weight loss faster and easier. It's also commonly used by people wanting to maintain good health and protect against age-related diseases.

The body makes minute amounts of lipoic acid, but you can also get it from your diet. Meats, broccoli, spinach, and brewer’s yeast all contain small amounts of lipoic acid. It's not easy, however, to get therapeutic amounts through diet alone. That is why many experts recommend taking supplements to get the full health benefits of alpha-lipoic acid.

Alpha-lipoic acid sells for approximately $20 for a bottle of 60 capsules. The recommended dosage is one capsule daily with a meal.

How It Works

Alpha-lipoic acid works with enzymes in the body to speed up the energy production mechanism. It also assists in the break down of amino acid chains for protein synthesis. The body manufactures enough to sustain these metabolic processes; however, high consumption of alpha-lipoic acid has proven to be an astonishingly effective antioxidant -- deactivating naturally occurring, extremely reactive molecules called free radicals that can harm cells. Alpha-lipoic acid carries out its antioxidant activity in the mitochondria of the cell. When we actually "burn fat," that burning of fatty acids takes place in the mitochondria of the muscle cell. Supplemental alpha-lipoic acid can help to maintain the ideal state for a fat burning environment.

Another distinctive property of alpha-lipoic is its capability to build up glucose storage in muscle tissue and not in fat tissue. This can lead to enhanced performance, superior maintenance of lean body mass, augmented muscle activity and growth, and an additional reduction in the possibility of fat storage.

Scientific Evidence of Effectiveness

Though evidence has been growing, research on alpha-lipoic acid is still in its initial stages. This potent antioxidant will probably one day be seen as a very important complement to a healthy diet, but not enough is known now to recommend it as a therapeutic supplement.

Side Effects

There are no known side effects, but the long-term effects of large doses are still unknown. However, upset stomach and low blood sugar have been reported in those who have taken it in excess. If alpha-lipoic acid is as potent as it seems, there may be a risk in too much of a good thing. For people with diabetes, the use of alpha-lipoic acid may require a change in insulin or other medications, so notifying a doctor before taking it is necessary.

Sources:
http://www.wellnessletter.com/html/ds/dsAlphaLipoicAcid.php
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/health-supplements/alpha-lipoic-acid.htm
http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T76343.html
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=1502
http://www.drugstore.com/qxc33405_333181_sespider/alpha_lipoic_acid/alpha_lipoic_acid.htm
http://www.philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/fatburningsupplements.htm