Anyone take ALA?

jcummings69

I have read that ALA can aide weight loss by increasing activity of the hormone leptin on visceral fat cells. Has anyone tried this supplement? Are there any cons to taking it?

jcummings69

I have read that ALA can aide weight loss by increasing activity of the hormone leptin on visceral fat cells. Has anyone tried this supplement? Are there any cons to taking it?

icandoit

What is it? I googled it and get American Lung Assoc. or American Library Association and some other American things.
Can you give the full name??

jcummings69

Alpha-lipoic acid

LokiFae

Here's a little info I found about it on a diabetic report:

Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is a chemical that is similar to a vitamin. It is an antioxidant--a substance that prevents cell damage caused by substances called free radicals in a process called oxidative stress. High levels of blood glucose are one cause of oxidative stress. ALA is found in some foods, such as liver, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes. ALA can also be made in the laboratory. ALA supplements are marketed as tablets or capsules.c It is theorized that ALA may be beneficial because of its antioxidant activity.

c There is some use, reported from outside the United States, of ALA delivered intravenously (IV). These trials are not discussed in this report.

Summary of the research findings
The evidence on ALA for type 2 diabetes and obesity is limited. There are a number of small studies in animals and in people that have shown hints of beneficial effects. In a few of these studies, some possible benefit from ALA was seen in glucose uptake in muscle; sensitivity of the body to insulin; diabetic neuropathy; and/or weight loss. More research is needed to document whether there is any benefit of ALA in diabetes and to better understand how ALA works.

Side effects and possible risks
While ALA appears to be safe for the general adult population, people with diabetes need to know that ALA might lower blood sugar too much, and thus they would need to monitor their blood sugar level especially carefully. ALA may also lower blood levels of minerals, such as iron; interact with some medicines, such as antacids; and decrease the effectiveness of some anti-cancer drugs. Other possible side effects of ALA include headache, skin rash, and stomach upset.


That's the best I could find. Here's the website I got it off of: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/diabetes/

icandoit

Alpha Lipoic Acid is the universal antioxidant and nutrient all-in-one. It is found in our cells naturally, but only in very small amounts. ALA is able to function in almost every part of the body to eliminate free radicals.

There are no good food sources of ALA, so the best way to maximize its benefits are to take it as a supplement, in addition to applying it topically in skin care products.


Here is what I would check into
Natural Antioxidants

Vitamin A and Carotenoids
Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)





Vitamin C

Citrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes




Vitamin E

Nuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil




Selenium

Fish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic






Other Common Antioxidants

Some common phytochemicals

Flavonoids / polyphenols
soy
red wine
purple grapes or Concord grapes
pomegranate
cranberries
tea
Lycopene
Tomato and tomato products
pink grapefruit
watermelon
Lutein
dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, kiwi, brussels sprout and spinach
Lignan
flax seed
oatmeal
barley
rye
Vitamin-like Antioxidants:

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Glutathione
Antioxidant enzymes made by the body:

superoxide dismutase (SOD)
catalase
glutathione peroxidase