Luxxe White: Alpha-Lipoic Acid Benefits

Alpha-lipoic acid is an organic compound found in the body that acts as a powerful antioxidant. It may have several health benefits. While the body produces its own alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) by itself, a person can increase their levels by taking supplements and eating ALA-rich foods or both.

Supplementing with Alpha-lipoic acid is becoming hugely popular, as some people believe that it may help with weight loss, diabetes, Alzheimers, skin health, and other health conditions.

Alpha-lipoic acid has gained a lot of attention in recent years. It’s an organic compound that acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. Luxxe White Enhanced Glutathione by Frontrow Enterprises contains 50mg of Alpha-Lipoic Acid.

Your body produces alpha-lipoic acid naturally, but it’s also found in a variety of foods and as a dietary supplement. Research suggests that it may play a role in weight loss, diabetes, and other health conditions.

What is alpha-lipoic acid?

Alpha-lipoic acid is an organic compound found in all human cells. It’s made inside the mitochondrion — also known as the powerhouse of cells — where it helps enzymes turn nutrients into energy.

What’s more, it has powerful antioxidant properties. Alpha-lipoic acid is both water- and fat-soluble, which allows it to work in every cell or tissue in the body. Meanwhile, most other antioxidants are either water- or fat-soluble. For instance, vitamin C is only water-soluble, while vitamin E is only fat-soluble.

The antioxidant properties of alpha-lipoic acid have been linked to several benefits, including lower blood sugar levels, reduced inflammation, slowed skin aging, and improved nerve function.

Humans only produce alpha-lipoic acid in small amounts. That’s why many turn to certain foods or supplements to optimize their intake.

Animal products like red meat and organ meats are great sources of alpha-lipoic acid, but plant foods like broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and Brussels sprouts also contain it. That said, supplements can pack up to 1,000 times more alpha-lipoic acid than food sources.

Alpha-lipoic acid is an organic compound that works as an antioxidant. It’s made in the mitochondria of cells but also found in foods and supplements.
Alpha-lipoic acid and weight loss. Research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid may affect weight loss in several ways.

Animal studies indicate that it can reduce the activity of the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is located in your brain’s hypothalamus. When AMPK is more active, it may increase feelings of hunger. On the other hand, suppressing AMPK activity may increase the number of calories your body burns at rest. Thus, animals who took alpha-lipoic acid burned more calories.

Alpha-lipoic acid and diabetes

Diabetes affects more than 400 million adults worldwide.

A key feature of uncontrolled diabetes is high blood sugar levels. If left untreated, this can cause health problems, such as vision loss, heart disease, and kidney failure. Alpha-lipoic acid has become popular as a potential aid for diabetes, as it’s been shown to lower blood sugar levels in both animals and humans.

In animal studies, it has lowered blood sugar levels by up to 64%. Other studies in adults with metabolic syndrome have shown that it may reduce insulin resistance and lower fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels.

Scientists believe that alpha-lipoic acid helps lower blood sugar by promoting processes that can remove fat that has accumulated in muscle cells, which otherwise makes insulin less effective.

Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid may lower the risk of diabetes complications.

It’s proven to ease symptoms of nerve damage and lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy (eye damage) that can occur with uncontrolled diabetes.

It’s believed that this effect is due to the powerful antioxidant properties of alpha-lipoic acid.

Though alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to aid blood sugar control, it’s not considered a complete treatment for diabetes. If you have diabetes and want to try alpha-lipoic acid, it’s best to first talk with your doctor, as it may interact with your medications.

Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to reduce insulin resistance, improve blood sugar control, ease symptoms of nerve damage, and lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy.

Other health benefits

Alpha-lipoic acid has been linked to a variety of other health benefits.

Reduces Skin Aging

Research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid may help fight signs of skin aging.

In one human study, scientists found that applying a cream containing alpha-lipoic acid to the skin reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and skin roughness with no side effects.

When alpha-lipoic acid is applied to the skin, it incorporates itself into the skin’s inner layers and offers antioxidant protection against the sun’s harmful UV radiation.

Moreover, alpha-lipoic acid raises the levels of other antioxidants, such as glutathione, which help protect against skin damage and may reduce signs of aging (21, 22Trusted Source).

Slows memory loss

Memory loss is a common concern among older adults.

It’s believed that damage from oxidative stress plays a critical role in memory loss. 

Because alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, studies have examined its ability to slow the progression of disorders characterized by memory loss, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Both human and lab studies suggest that alpha-lipoic acid slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by neutralizing free radicals and suppressing inflammation. 

However, only a handful of studies have investigated alpha-lipoic acid and memory loss-related disorders. More research is needed before alpha-lipoic acid can be recommended for treatment.

Promotes healthy nerve function

Research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid promotes healthy nerve function.

In fact, it’s been found to slow the progression of carpal tunnel syndrome in its early stages. This condition is characterized by numbness or tingling in the hand caused by a pinched nerve.

Moreover, taking alpha-lipoic acid before and after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome has been shown to improve recovery outcomes.

Studies have also discovered that alpha-lipoic acid may ease symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve pain caused by uncontrolled diabetes.

Reduces inflammation

Chronic inflammation is linked to several diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to lower several markers of inflammation.

In an analysis of 11 studies, alpha-lipoic acid significantly lowered levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) in adults with high levels of CRP.

In test-tube studies, alpha-lipoic acid has reduced markers of inflammation, including NF-kB, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and IL-6.

May lower heart disease risk factors

Heart disease is responsible for one in four deaths in America. Research from a combination of lab, animal, and human studies has shown that the antioxidant properties of alpha-lipoic acid may lower several heart disease risk factors.

First, antioxidant properties allow alpha-lipoic acid to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to damage that can increase heart disease risk.

Second, it’s been shown to improve endothelial dysfunction — a condition in which blood vessels cannot dilate properly, which also raises the risks of heart attack and stroke.

What’s more, a review of studies found that taking an alpha-lipoic acid supplement lowered triglyceride and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in adults with metabolic disease.

Alpha-lipoic acid has strong antioxidant properties, which may reduce inflammation and skin aging, promote healthy nerve function, lower heart disease risk factors, and slow the progression of memory loss disorders.