Research: Alpha Lipoic Acid Benefits: Most Powerful Antioxidant, HIV, Diabetes, Heart Diseases, more

[MagickMuffin]

I decided this should be in this forum instead of where I originally posted it. I apologize for the cross posting.

I have been researching restoring the Olfactory Bulb, since I have experienced my Loss of Smell starting in the Fall of '02. I discovered Alpha Lipoic Acid among one of the benefits that could/might be helpful. Along the way I discovered that there is way more that ALA could be beneficial for other ailments and wanted to share what I have learned.

I also bought a Neti Pot and have been using this as a treatment to the ALA capsules I'm taking. The studies for ALA and the Olfactory bulb seems like it might take awhile of showing any signs of improvement 4.5 months :-( but it something to look forward to, I've almost up to a month since I started taking 600mg a day. I bought mine at Walgreens when they had their Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale. I got two bottles of 30 capsules for $10.


Now onward to the ALA research:

ALA has been used to improve liver health, treat diabetes-related nerve damage and help regulate blood sugar, prevent diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eyes done by diabetes), and provide protection against oxidative processes involved in the degenerative diseases. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant and liver purifier, Alpha Lipoic Acid has shown promise in several areas of medicine.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: Most Powerful Antioxidant
Alpha lipoic acid is an extremely important antioxidant that destroys many of the free-radicals that are harmful to the human body. Lipoic acid is both water and fat soluble. This is beneficial in countering many different forms of oxidative stress and cellular damage in any part of a cell. Thereby, it can reduce the oxidative stress in the body while recycling the effectiveness of other antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and glutathione. Vitamin C and glutathione can be regenerated through reaction with alpha lipoic acid.

Alpha Lipoic Acid and HIV
Alpha lipoic acid's ability to raise glutathione significantly (30-70%) in people living with HIV has resulted in further HIV research. This is very important for liver repair since HIV induces glutathione deficiency.

Han D, Tritschler HJ, Packer L. "Alpha-lipoic acid increases intracellular glutathione in a human T-lymphocyte Jurkat cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995 Feb 6;207(1):258-64

Alpha lipoic acid has shown to inhibit replication of HIV in both acutely and chronically infected cells. In vitro, alpha lipoic acid has been show to have synergistic antiviral effect when combined with AZT. This combination showed a stronger inhibition of HIV replication than either had when used alone.

A. Baur A et al., Alpha lipoic acid is an effective inhibitor of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV-1) replication, Klin Wochenschr 69 (1991): 722-4.

One of the researches done at Kumamoto University in Japan has also shown that alpha lipoic acid significantly depress the HIV gene activity and HIV infectivity.


Alpha Lipoic Acid as a Wrinkle Cure
Lester Packer, Ph.D. of University of California, Berkeley, has researched and published several studies that prove the therapeutic benefits of alpha lipoic acid when administered orally to both animals and humans. Dr. Packer proved that the alpha lipoic acid does a great job of squashing the free radicals and thereby protecting the vitamins in the body. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D. of Yale University School of Medicine and the author of the book The Wrinkle Cure states that since "alpha lipoic acid is both fat and water soluble, it can work in each and every part of skin cells." According to Dr. Perricone, alpha lipoic acid helps with the elimination of damaged collagen resulting in erasing of wrinkles and facial scars. He also thinks that alpha lipoic acid prevents the sugar damage of protein that also prevents the premature aging and skin damage.


Alpha Lipoic Acid and Diabetes
People with diabetes are at greater risk for the development of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and blindness. Diabetes is one of the most common degenerative diseases in the United States. Clinicians and patients in Europe who have used Alpha Lipoic Acid have reported significant reductions in complications associated with diabetes, including neuropathy, and cataracts . ALA has shown benefits in also found reversing diabetic neuropathy and in assisting the body ability to utilize glucose. There is evidence which suggests that ALA my help diabetics reduce their reliance on insulin.


Alpha Lipoic Acid and Heart Diseases
Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by free radicals has been implicated in the formation of arterial cholesterol deposits which are associated with atherosclerosis. A study published in 1992 showed that Alpha Lipoic Acid recycles vitamin E by synergistically interacting with Vitamin C, thus protecting the body against the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins by free radical. Lipoic acid has also been shown to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury to the heart and brain.


Diabetic Neuropathy
Extensive animal studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress may be a final common pathway in the development of damage to the nervous system caused by diabetes, also known as diabetic neuropathy. Antioxidants can also prevent or in some cases reverse hyperglycaemia-induced nerve dysfunction. ALA demonstrated positive results for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy in two major studies. The first Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Diabetic Neuropathy (ALADIN) study evaluated three intravenous doses of alpha-lipoic acid and involved 328 type 2 diabetics with neuropathy. These patients were treated with 1,200 mg, 600 mg, or 100 mg of the antioxidant or a placebo for a period of three weeks. Improvements of 30% or more in symptom scores were seen in 71% of the 1,200-mg group, in 82% of the 600-mg group, in 65% of the 100-mg group, and in 58% of the placebo group. The second study, called the "ALADIN II Study," analyzed results from the study of 65 patients receiving two oral dosages of alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg/day or 1,200 mg/day) or placebo over a 2-year period. Initially, patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Although the trial "was not sufficiently rigorous" to assess overall efficacy, the investigators did note evidence of clinically meaningful improvement in neuropathic function. In other clinical trials, Alpha Lipoic Acid and vitamin E were found to reduce neuropathic symptoms or to correct nerve conduction velocity.


Glaucoma and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in some but not all cases. Some patients with glaucoma have normal IOP but poor circulation, resulting in damage to the optic nerve. Nutrients to increase glutathione levels and activity include lipoic acid, vitamins E and C, and selenium.


Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent and relapsing fatigue, often accompanied by numerous symptoms involving various body systems. Little is known about the cause of this disease; however, recent studies have shown that there may be a connection between CFS and free radicals in the body. This would suggest the use of antioxidants in the management of CFS. Clinicians in Canada concluded that ALA and other anti-oxidant supplements such as glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, Ginkgo biloba, and Vaccinium myrtillus may be beneficial in the treatment of CFS.


Alpha Lipoic Acid Reduces Symptoms of Toxicity by tbe Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin is a powerful medication used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat cancer, including malignant lymphomas and leukemias. While this life-saving medication is an important part of cancer treatment, it has the unfortunate side effect of producing cardiotoxicity, a condition that is hazardous to the heart. The health of cancer patients may be negatively affected by the use of Doxorubicin. A study involving patients who had been injected with Doxrubicin found that the oral administration of Alpha Lipoic Acid for 5 days before and 2 days after injection reduced the risk of Doxrubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. This was evident by significant reductions in serum creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase. ALA also prevented the rise of malondialdehyde as well as the significant reduction of protein thiols. According to the clinicians who conducted the research, "These results may suggest that LA has a protective effect against cardiotoxicity induced by DOX and it may, therefore, improve the therapeutic index of DOX."


Alpha Lipoic Acid as a Possible Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
Scientists believe that oxidative injury may be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an experimental model of MS, were given Alpha Lipoic Acid to treat. The mice showed a reduction of encephalomyelitis symptoms of between 23% - 100%, with minimal inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss in the spinal cords. The scientists conducting the research concluded, "ALA is highly effective at suppressing and treating EAE and does so by inhibiting T cell trafficking into the spinal cord, perhaps by acting as a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor." While emphasizing that more research is required, researchers believe that ALA may have potential as a treatment for MS.


Alpha Lipoic Acid Helps Revive Lost Olfactory (loss of smell) Senses
The sense of smell is a common result of infections of the upper respiratory tract. Olfactory loss, while not as critical as a loss of sight or of hearing, is still a significant loss for those who can no longer smell, affecting taste, associated memories, and even crucial warnings from the environment, such as when we notice the smell of smoke.
Patients who had suffered a reduction or loss of olfactory senses were given oral doses of alpha-lipoic acid at a dose of 600 mg/day for an average period of 4.5 months. While 30% of these patients showed no change in olfactory function, an impressive 61% demonstrated moderate to significant increase in olfactory function.

http://www.alpha-lipoic-acid.com/herbal-remedies/alpha-...

[MagickMuffin]

1. Some more of my research led me to this info: about Olfactory functions

I have never heard about ENS, but it has some interesting info.


Empty nose syndrome (ENS), also known in research as "the wide nasal cavity syndrome", is a medical term used to describe a nose crippled by over resection of the inferior and/or middle turbinates of the nose.

Symptoms


physical symptoms

• Nose feels too empty/hollow/absent.
• Diminished nasal airflow sensation feedback ('paradoxical obstruction').
• Extreme sensation of dryness of the nasal cavities, with or without crusting.
• Not enough moisture/mucus production.
• Dryness of the pharynx, soft palate and back of the tongue ("dry pharyngitis" and "dry laryngitis").
• Feeling of needing more nasal resistance (or nasal membrane responsiveness) to breathe.
• Increased pulmonary sensitivity to air-borne irritants, strong scents and cold air. Causes much uneasiness in breathing and sometimes even long-periods (can last hours) of severe shortness of breath, depending on the degree of exposure.
• Diminished sense of smell and/or taste. Can be confusing - because although there is diminished sense of smell there is also hyper-responsiveness to light and volatile airborne chemicals, fumes and irritants.
• Difficulty projecting or resonating speech. The voice seems weak and requires some straining to sound loud and articulate well, which causes uneasiness in speech.
• Feeling weak and depleted of energy.
• Very poor quality of sleep. Not necessarily full sleep apnea, but shallow and dry breathing, which often switches entirely to mouth breathing only, waking up a lot very dry, with headaches, severe dizziness and very little REM sleep.
• Relatively dry skin and eyes.


cognitive symptoms

• Difficulty concentrating ('aprosexia nasalis').
• Difficulty performing mental tasks.

emotional symptoms

• Marked reduction in sense of self and very crippled sense of well-being.
• Irritated and/or depressed mood. Often clinical depression.
• Anxieties.
• Avoidance of social interactions.


other characteristic physical symptoms that many ENS patients develop

• irritating sensation of thick stagnant mucus stuck at the back of the throat. Because of the dryness of the mucosa the mucus propelled to the throat (on the way to the stomach - the nasal mucociliary clearance that occurs in all humans) simply becomes too dry and sticks to the sides of the throat instead of sliding smoothly unfelt.
• Chronic sinusitis.
• Worsening of pre surgical nasal symptoms, such as allergic rhinitis, etc'.
• Epistaxis.
• Hardly any mucus production, or the opposite – episodes of excessive rhinoreah.
• Foul smell from nasal cavities.
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).
• Elevated levels of blood pressure.
• Hormonal and metabolic imbalances.
• Significant weight gain.

A lot more info:
http://emptynosesyndrome.org/ens.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. My doctor suggests this supplement for a variety of ailments

My husband takes ALA sustain for his diabetes (among other supplements) and is not insulin dependent because of it. We also use it with Vitamin C in IVs for folks with various ailments, including Hepatitis C.

[MagickMuffin]

4. My MIL suffers from diabetes and she isn't prone to checking her blood sugar levels

or staying away from the sweets. She also has Diabetic Neuropathy, trouble with her feet and legs. Her feet are always swollen and she loves wearing tight shoes but claims they don't hurt.
Her Dr. has told her there is nothing she can do for her neuropathy, but proceeds to fill out a prescription for her to waste her money on, since he's already declared there is nothing that can be done for it:shrug:

I was thinking about sharing this info with her Dr., however, whenever I've mentioned internet research in the past usually the Dr's I spoke to about roll their eyes, like any info you get from the internet isn't valid. I tend to only lead credence to info from researchers in the field who have preformed studies in the field they are in. I just recently went to a discussion forum on the topic of olfactory problems. It didn't take me long to leave in a hurry.

I guess I'll just have to make him understand the research is valid information and that he should check it out for himself. After all I already did the first round of research for him, all he has to do is be receptive to new info.


I'm glad your hubby has been insulin free. I hope it proves to be a help with my loss sense of smell. Especially since I keep getting Xmas presents that are for making your home smell nice.
I have to ask Hubby does this smell good. This year I received 3 candles and 2 different kind of oils that use those sticks to absorb the oil.

Happy New Year, ayesha :hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Many doctors are trained from medical school onward

to not pay attention to supplementation. I would suggest you have your mom get a second opinion from a holistic physician--the American Holistic Medical Association's website has a doctor search you can use to find a doctor in your area.

[Peace Patriot]

3. Thanks for this info! nt