Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on blood glucose, insulin resistance and glutathione peroxidase of type 2 diabetic patients.
Ansar H, Mazloom Z, Kazemi F, Hejazi N.
Saudi Med J. 2011 Jun; 32(6):584-8.

 To examine the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment over a period of 2 months on fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin resistance (IR), and glutathione peroxidase (GH-Px) activity in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. This study took place in Motahari Clinic, Shiraz, Iran, which is affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from May to October 2006. Type 2 DM patients (n=57) were divided into 2 groups to receive either ALA (300 mg daily) or placebo by systematic randomization, and were followed-up for 8 weeks. After an overnight fasting and 2 hours after breakfast, patients’ blood samples were drawn and tested for FBG, 2 hours PPG, serum insulin level, and GH-Px activity. The result of the study showed a significant decrease in FBG and PPG levels, IR-Homeostasis Model Assessment (IR-HOMA index) and GH-Px level in the ALA group. The comparison of differences between FBG and IR at the beginning and at the end of study in the ALA treated group and the placebo group were also significant. This study supports the use of ALA as an antioxidant in the care of diabetic patients.
PMID: 21666939

 Amelioration of Lipid Abnormalities by α-Lipoic acid Through Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.
Zhang Y, Han P, Wu N, He B, Lu Y, Li S, Liu Y, Zhao S, Liu L, Li Y.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Aug;19(8):1647-53

 Recent data have revealed that oxidative products and inflammatory mediators are increased in the insulin-resistant states of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obese patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are at high risk for developing T2DM and have high incidence of dyslipidemia. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant with insulin sensitizing activity. However, it is not clear whether ALA is effective on lipid parameters in humans. This study has investigated 22 obese subjects with IGT (obese-IGT), 13 of whom underwent 2-week ALA treatment, 600 mg intravenously once daily. Before and after the treatment, euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps were used to measure insulin sensitivity. Meanwhile, plasma lipids, oxidative products, and chronic inflammatory markers were measured. After treatment of ALA in obese-IGT patients, insulin sensitivity was improved, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) impressively enhanced by 41%. Plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-Chol), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-Chol), small dense LDL-Chol (sd-LDL), oxidized LDL-Chol (ox-LDL-Chol), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-Chol) were all significantly decreased (P < 0.01). At the same time, both plasma oxidative products (malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin) and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)) were remarkably decreased (P < 0.01), while adiponectin was increased (P < 0.01). There are significant negative correlations between ISI and plasma FFAs, sd-LDL-Chol, ox-LDL-Chol, MDA, 8-iso-prostaglandin, TNF-α, and IL-6, and positive correlations with HDL-Chol and adiponectin in obese-IGT patients. The results indicate that short-term treatment with ALA can improve insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid profile possibly through amelioration of oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory reaction in obese patients with IGT. PMID: 21593803

  Immunomodulatory effect of DL-α-lipoic acid in aged rats.
Palaniyappan A, Alphonse R.
Exp Gerontol. 2011 Sep;46(9):709-15

 Senescence is the result of an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses, with concomitant oxidative stress and age-dependent functional decline. This process is especially evident in the immune cells, which use free radicals in their functions and suffer a senescent deterioration probably linked to oxygen stress. We hypothesize that oxidative damage and antioxidant imbalance may play a critical role in the immune dysfunction in aging. In the present study, we investigated this hypothesis in aged rats by treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA). We studied the effect of α-LA on immune function by examining immunomodulating factors in the plasma. Then we examined oxidative damage and antioxidant defense systems in the plasma. We found out that immune dysfunction in aged animals is associated with increased oxidative damage and decreased antioxidant status and treatment with α-LA effectively elevated immune function, decreased oxidative insult and enhanced antioxidant status. These results suggest that α-LA may be effective in improving immune function in aging through decreasing oxidative damage and revitalizing antioxidants in blood. PMID: 21570458
Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  Photochemical stability of lipoic acid and its impact on skin ageing.
Matsugo S, Bito T, Konishi T.
Free Radical Res. 2011 Aug;45(8):918-24

 It is well known that α-lipoic acid (LA) functions as an essential co-factor of the mitochondrial multi-enzyme complex and thus plays an important role in energy metabolism. Currently, it is attracting attention as a nutritional supplement because of its unique antioxidant properties and broad spectra of cellular functions. Skin protection from photodamage and ageing is one of the functional applications of LA. Medical and cosmetic application has been widely realized in the world. However, LA has a unique structure bearing a distorted five membered 1, 2-dithiolane ring, making it quite vulnerable to UV radiation. The present article briefly reviews skin ageing from the viewpoint of oxidative stress and sun exposure and analyses the photochemical properties of LA. It also discusses the effect of LA to cellular signalling and its adequate applications to treat skin ageing caused by oxidation. Data presented in this review suggest that LA is a powerful anti-ageing agent under the appropriate usage.
PMID: 21651453

  Alpha-lipoic acid triggers elimination of cells with abnormal nuclei in human carcinoma epidermoid cell line.
Kisurina-Evgen’eva OP, Onishchenko GE.
Tsitologiia. 2010;52(3):225-34.

 The skin is usually exposed to adverse environmental conditions that may cause pathological cell proliferation and cellular transformations leading to the formation of malignant cells. Antioxidants may affect these processes and induce the elimination of transformed cell. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of alfa-lipoic acid on human carcinoma epidermoid cell line A431. Our results showed that alfa-lipoic acid induced inhibition of cell proliferation or stimulated apoptotic cell death. Cells with abnormal nuclei were eliminated by apoptosis. Electron microscopy showed that survived cells had typical for control cells shape and organization of the nuclei, organization of the cytoplasm and organelles. Thus, alfa-lipoic acid not only triggered apoptosis of carcinoma cells, but it may also activate the mechanism of elimination of cells with abnormal chromosome number. PMID: 20429300

  Alpha-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant

Packer, L. Witt, E. and Tritschler H.
Free Radic Biol Med. 1995 Aug;19(2):227-50.

 Αlpha-Lipoic acid, which plays an essential role in mitochondrial dehydrogenase reactions, has recently gained considerable attention as an antioxidant. Lipoate, or its reduced form, dihydrolipoate, reacts with reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, hypochlorous acid, peroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen. It also protects membranes by interacting with vitamin C and glutathione, which may in turn recycle vitamin E. In addition to its antioxidant activities, dihydrolipoate may exert prooxidant actions through reduction of iron. α-Lipoic acid administration has been shown to be beneficial in a number of oxidative stress models such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, diabetes (both α-lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid exhibit hydrophobic binding to proteins such as albumin, which can prevent glycation reactions), cataract formation, HIV activation, neurodegeneration, and radiation injury. Furthermore, lipoate can function as a redox regulator of proteins such as myoglobin, prolactin, thioredoxin and NF-κB transcription factor. We review the properties of lipoate in terms of (1) reactions with reactive oxygen species; (2) interactions with other antioxidants; (3) beneficial effects in oxidative stress models or clinical conditions. PMID: 7649494

  Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation and diabetes
Uma, Singh and Ishwarlal, Jialal
Nutr Rev. 2008 November; 66(11): 646–657

 Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder that is usually accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species or by impaired antioxidant defenses. Importantly, oxidative stress is particularly relevant to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a naturally occurring dithiol compound, has long been known as an essential cofactor for mitochondrial bioenergetic enzymes. LA is a very important micronutrient with diverse pharmacologic and antioxidant properties. Pharmacologically, LA improves glycemic control and polyneuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus; it also effectively mitigates toxicities associated with heavy metal poisoning. As an antioxidant, LA directly terminates free radicals, chelates transition metal ions, increases cytosolic glutathione and vitamin C levels, and prevents toxicities associated with their loss. These diverse actions suggest that LA acts by multiple mechanisms both physiologically and pharmacologically. Its biosynthesis decreases as people age and is reduced in people with compromised health, thus suggesting a possible therapeutic role for LA in such cases. Reviewed here is the known efficacy of LA with particular reference to types 1 and 2 diabetes. Particular attention is paid to the potential benefits of LA with respect to glycemic control, improved insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, and neuropathy in diabetic patients. It appears that the major benefit of LA supplementation is in patients with diabetic neuropathy. PMID: 19019027

  Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential
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Shay K., Moreau R., Smith E., Smith A. and Hagen T.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Oct;1790(10):1149-60

 Alpha-lipoic acid (LA) has become a common ingredient in multivitamin formulas, anti-aging supplements, and even pet food. It is well-defined as a therapy for preventing diabetic polyneuropathies, and scavenges free radicals, chelates metals, and restores intracellular glutathione levels which otherwise decline with age. How do the biochemical properties of LA relate to its biological effects? Herein, we review the molecular mechanisms of LA discovered using cell and animal models, and the effects of LA on human subjects. Though LA has long been touted as an antioxidant, it has also been shown to improve glucose and ascorbate handling, increase eNOS activity, activate Phase II detoxification via the transcription factor Nrf2, and lower expression of MMP-9 and VCAM-1 through repression of NF-kappa B. LA and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid, may use their chemical properties as a redox couple to alter protein conformations by forming mixed disulfides. Beneficial effects are achieved with low micromolar levels of LA, suggesting that some of its therapeutic potential extends beyond the strict definition of an antioxidant. Current trials are investigating whether these beneficial properties of LA make it an appropriate treatment not just for diabetes, but also for the prevention of vascular disease, hypertension, and inflammation. PMID: 19664690

 The potential protective role of alpha-lipoic acid against acetaminophen-induced hepatic and renal damage.
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Ahmed O. Abdel-Zaher,Randa H. Abdel-Hady, Madeha M. Mahmoud and Magda M.Y. Farrag
Toxicology. 2008 Jan 20;243(3):261-70

 The potential protective role of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity was investigated in rats. Pretreatment of rats with α-LA (100 mg/kg) orally protected markedly against hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by an acute oral toxic dose of APAP (2.5 g/kg) as assessed by biochemical measurements and by histopathological examination. None of α-LA pretreated animals died by the acute toxic dose of APAP. Concomitantly, APAP-induced profound elevation of nitric oxide (NO) production and oxidative stress, as evidenced by increasing of lipid peroxidation level, reducing of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and depleting of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level in liver and kidney, were suppressed by pretreatment with α-LA. Similarly, daily treatment of rats with a smaller dose of α-LA (25 mg/kg) concurrently with a smaller toxic dose of APAP (750 mg/kg) for 1 week protected against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This treatment also completely prevented APAP-induced mortality and markedly inhibited APAP-induced NO overproduction and oxidative stress in hepatic and renal tissues. These results provide evidence that inhibition of NO overproduction and maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play a pivotal role in the protective effects of α-LA against APAP-induced hepatic and renal damage. PMID: 18068886