Lipoic acid: a friend of diabetics, alcoholics and those losing weight

For what?

The properties of lipoic acid and its effects on the body are extensive.
This acid is best known for its antioxidant effects. Scientists from Moscow State University have proven that alpha-lipoic acid can increase the resistance of nerve cells to neurodegenerative disorders. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.1 Its results may help in the development of drugs to treat diseases associated with disorders of the nervous tissue. Some studies have confirmed the effect of lipoic acid on increasing blood circulation.2

In terms of weight loss, studies conducted with obese people have seen weight loss in those who took 1800 mg of lipoic acid,3 but more research is needed to confidently claim that this supplement promotes weight loss. It slows down the accumulation of fat deposits, but you need to understand that if you want to lose weight, you cannot rely only on supplements. This drug can only be considered as an addition to exercise and diet.

It is also used to prevent and protect against infections and viruses. It takes part in many biochemical processes occurring in the body: it regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism, promotes detoxification of the body after drinking alcohol, from toxic substances and heavy metals.

It is often prescribed as an additional means to reduce the side effects of basic drugs in the treatment of various diseases.

The supplement has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and reduces emotional stress.

This acid plays a critical role in the process of converting glucose into energy.

Alpha lipoic acid is a universal antioxidant because it dissolves not only in water, but also in fat. Thanks to this property, it copes well with intracellular protection. In addition, it combines well with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, glutathione, vitamin E, enhancing their effects. Science has also proven the effectiveness of lipoic acid for memory problems.

Benefits for weight loss

Alpha lipoic acid has wonderful properties that will be useful for anyone who is trying to reduce body fat and reduce their weight. It is involved in the process of fat burning and promotes more active breakdown of fat cells during physical activity. In addition, when entering the body, lipoic acid enhances protein metabolism, due to which a person receives the necessary amount of energy. However, you must follow a strict diet.

To lose weight, lipoic acid should be consumed in the morning before the first meal, after training or at dinner. It is good to combine a portion of the supplement with carbohydrate foods.

To achieve maximum effect, you should strictly monitor your basic diet. It should be balanced and fully meet your daily needs for proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Avoid increasing feelings of hunger.

Helps maintain muscle mass while dieting

Another potential benefit of CLA is its ability to preserve muscle mass while dieting. The best way to maintain muscle mass during a long-term calorie-restricted diet is to consume adequate protein (1.6 g/kg+) with regular resistance training. However, supplementing with CLA can help improve your results.

The study, which lasted two years, looked at the body composition of overweight adults. Those who received 4.5 g of CLA showed a decrease in fat mass and preservation of muscle mass.4 However, it is worth noting that this two-year period did not include monitoring of diet and exercise. And when it comes to maintaining muscle while losing weight, these factors are important.

Supplement for athletes

Every athlete knows that during training, one of the main tasks in building a beautiful body is proper muscle recovery. Lipoic acid acts as an antioxidant and enhances human potential. When consumed, the production of heavy radicals decreases as a result of intense exercise in the gym. This allows the body to fully rest and grow. Regular use of lipoic acid will increase physical activity without losing performance. It also acts as an anti-catabolic, that is, it prevents proteins from being destroyed, which will have a beneficial effect on the effectiveness of your training process.

Application in cosmetology

Lipoic acid is actively used externally as a cosmetic product. In most compositions of anti-aging creams, it comes first. Lipoic acid gives the skin a healthy appearance, helps maintain its tone and reduces the negative effects of long exposure to the sun. It can be useful for skin diseases: dandruff and acne, as it narrows pores and reduces inflammation. A double-blind study of forty participants found a noticeable reduction in signs of skin aging after six months of supplementation.5

The benefits of lipoic acid for weight loss

Lipoic acid was used to treat liver diseases that could be associated with excessive alcohol consumption. A little later, the product began to be used by athletes and bodybuilders to improve their physical fitness. Now LC is used to speed up the process of losing excess weight. When taking LA, metabolism accelerates. It is the speed of metabolic processes that influences the effectiveness of weight loss.

Alpha-lipolyic acid helps normalize the functioning of almost all organs, which helps to effectively lose excess weight. For example:

1. Reduces sugar levels. This is justified by the fact that glucose absorption is normalized, carbohydrate balance becomes close to ideal, and appetite decreases. By reducing the portion size, a person will not face the feeling of constant hunger.
2. Prevents the formation of fatty deposits. This substance is not a fat-burning agent, but it is vitamin N that reduces the amount of fat deposits. Previously formed fat can only be removed through physical exercise.
3. Accelerates the absorption of glucose. It is this factor that influences human activity. With a low-calorie diet and taking LA, you can play sports without harm to your health.

It is these properties of the acid that allow you to lose weight without discomfort, hunger and irritability, increasing the effect of low-calorie diets.

What products does it contain?

The main sources of lipoic acid are animal products - heart, kidneys and liver. It is also found in large quantities in various legumes: lentils, peas, beans. Small amounts of acid can be obtained from bananas, mushrooms, yeast, rice, spinach, cabbage and dairy products.

The human body is capable of producing lipoic acid on its own. But even taking into account the amount that can be obtained from food, the level of its content will be insufficient for the healthy functioning of the body. Therefore, doctors advise paying attention to additional intake of alpha lipoic acid in the form of a supplement. It is available in several forms: in the form of capsules, powder and ampoules for intravenous injection.

Natural Sources of CLA

• Grass-fed beef - 433 mg per serving
• Cheese from grass-fed cows - 180-270 mg
• Whole milk from grass-fed cows - 160-240 mg
• Lamb - 148 mg
• Whole milk - 44 mg
• Regular yogurt - 43 mg
• Butter - 54 mg
• Cottage cheese - 22 mg
• 2% milk - 20 mg

Dosage

LA is used as part of complex preparations. or in the form of dietary supplements. Manufacturers produce the drug in different dosages, but it is up to the doctor to find your individual dosage.

The most common types of thioctic acid dosages are as follows:

1. If the patient does not have specific indications, then he can consume up to 50 mg of the substance per day;
2. An increased dose (75 mg) is prescribed exclusively in the case of complex treatment of kidney, liver or heart diseases;
3. LA for weight loss is approved for diabetics at the following dosage: at least 400 mg per day;
4. The dosage of thioctic acid for people who do not have health problems is 100 mg per day;
5. The dosage of the drug can be increased to 500 mg per day if a person is actively involved in sports.

The dosage for women is 30-50 mg per day. At the rate of taking about 2-3 times a day, 10-15 mg. For men, this dose increases to 55-75 mg 3 times a day, 20-25 mg each.

Many resources may also indicate that you should consume up to 200 mg of alpha lipoic acid per day to achieve greater results. Doctors recommend starting any drug with small doses to avoid side effects and overdose.

The period of taking lipoids is always strictly limited to 3 weeks. The break between courses should be 1-2 months. After which the course can be repeated.

special instructions

If the drug is used intramuscularly, it is best to administer it in the morning or evening.

When taking ALA in the form of dietary supplements or as part of medications, problems with the gastrointestinal tract may occur. To prevent stomach problems, it is recommended to take the medicine after meals.

Vitamin N interferes with the absorption of calcium, for this reason it is better to eat dairy products 4-5 hours after taking ALA.

Lipoid acid is consumed by athletes, as a rule, 30 minutes after the start of active exercise.

Lipoate and alcohol should absolutely not be combined. Alcohol does not allow all the properties of the vitamin to manifest themselves. Moreover, it often causes dizziness and vomiting.

After 2 or 3 weeks after using LC, the urine may have a peculiar odor. This is an absolutely normal reaction, you should not be afraid of such changes.

If you are taking other serious medications, consult your doctor. This will help you find out exactly the compatibility of the two products.

Repetition helps. Does Alpha Lipoic Acid Lose Weight Without Exercise? Alas, taking this substance without additional activity will not give any results.

Side effects

If you follow all dosage standards, then there will be no side effects at all. Any ailment that is associated with taking ALA can only arise from an overdose or from too long a course of use. Symptoms of overdose include:

• stomach discomfort;
• skin rashes, itching, eczema;
• anaphylactic shock;
• headaches, high blood pressure;
• nausea, diarrhea;
• convulsions, respiratory dysfunction.

If these symptoms appear, you should stop taking the drug.

Do not assume that a larger dose will immediately achieve a better effect. Overdose is extremely dangerous. In critical cases, the following types of assistance should be provided:

• gastric lavage or artificially induced vomiting;
• consumption of activated carbon;
• symptomatic therapy.

Contraindications

Contraindicated in the presence of the following factors:

• any allergic reactions caused by the drug;
• pregnancy, lactation;
• age not exceeding 16 years;
• gastritis or other stomach problems.

Ignoring these contraindications can have a detrimental effect on a person’s health and well-being.

Drug interactions

It is strictly prohibited to use ALA simultaneously with insulin. The explanation for this is simple: both drugs can sharply reduce the concentration of sugar in the blood. In addition, it is not recommended to use vitamin N while taking calcium, magnesium or iron.

Storage conditions

The drug in capsule form should be stored in its original packaging, avoiding moisture. The injection is very sensitive to light, for this reason the drug should be stored in dark places. After the expiration date, the drug is disposed of; its use is strictly prohibited so as not to cause poisoning.

How to take it correctly?

Like other vitamin-like substances, lipoic acid has its own consumption standards. They will be different depending on age. Children under 15 years of age are recommended to take 12-25 mg per day, for adults - about 25-50 mg. During periods of intense physical or emotional stress, it is worth increasing your lipoic acid intake to 75 mg. If lipoic acid is part of a complex treatment program for any disease, then its dosage can be significantly increased.

Please note that while taking lipoic acid you must avoid drinking alcohol.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before you start using Alpha Lipolyic Acid, you should carefully familiarize yourself with all the advantages and disadvantages of this product.

ALA is taken for weight loss because it:

• inexpensive;
• normalizes cholesterol;
• improves the functioning of the nervous system;
• protects the liver from negative effects;
• increases energy, improves mood;
• provides a protective function against sunlight;
• reduces the number of stretch marks on the skin;
• helps people with diabetes reduce the risks associated with eye disease;
• normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• makes the immune system stronger and more stable;
• increases the number of bacteria beneficial to microflora;
• metabolic processes will accelerate, metabolism improves. Losing weight with LC is more effective;
• You can take the product without following a strict diet.

But you should pay attention to the following features:

• Side effects may occur. To prevent lipoic acid from causing a negative reaction, the dosage must be observed;
• To achieve greater results, you need to take several courses. This is necessary because the medicine is not recommended to be used for too long a time. If you intend to get rid of extra pounds, then several courses are necessary;
• complete incompatibility with alcohol in any quantity;
• Since this product is a dietary supplement, its cost is significantly higher than a regular drug.

It should be understood that in the absence of physical activity, the medicine will not have a positive effect.

Side effects

When studying the effects of lipoic acid on the human body, no significant negative consequences were identified. Even when combined with other antioxidants: vitamins A or C, L-carnitine or green tea extract. However, if the recommended dosages are exceeded excessively, side effects may occur. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Conclusion

Alpha lipoic acid is a universal antioxidant that, by fighting antioxidants, slows down the aging process. It enhances the effect of many vitamins, helping to strengthen the immune system and improve overall health, and regulates metabolism. For athletes, it may be of particular interest, as it helps maintain muscle mass and increase physical performance when losing weight. It also prevents the destruction of proteins. Taking alpha lipoic acid will not only help replenish the lack of substance in the body, but will also affect the effectiveness of training.

Articles on our website are presented for educational and informational purposes only. We do not recommend using article materials as medical advice. If you decide to take dietary supplements or make fundamental changes to your diet, first consult with a specialist.