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

[MagickMuffin]

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-lipoic-acid/alphalipoicacid-benefits

[amitten]

1. Did you ever use the Zicam nasal spray?

I learned today that it's being blamed for hundreds of people permanently losing sense of smell. Apparently, millions of dollars have been awarded in a class-action lawsuit against the company.

It seems that zinc is not good for the nasal passages, although it is fine in the throat.

[MagickMuffin]

2. I've never been very prone to nasal sprays

I also read on a discussion forum that zinc tablets are alright for the nose, but you shouldn't use zinc in any other form. I don't know how much truth there is to this info.

Some more of my research led me to this 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

Also since 2000 I have developed a weird "allergry?" that affects my legs and feet. After eating certain types of food peanuts, sometimes corn, I will break out in a rash on my legs. It only attacks from my knees downward to my feet. Sometimes the rash is tiny little dots, other times they are very large, like the small dots converge into a larger mass. This is also accompanied by swelling. I can usually tell within a short period of time that I ate something I shouldn't have.

I have never had food allergies in my life, so this is a mystery to me. I noticed after eating Kashi Puffed Rice Cereal that it was causing me to break out. I would eat it straight out of the box like it was popcorn. So, it made me wonder if maybe the foods that make me break out are somehow related to "Frankenfood" i.e. Genetically Modified Food.

Anyway that seems to be my only health concerns at the moment. I have NO healthcare so I can't go to a doctor to confirm my suspicions.

[BlueIris]

3. Holy crap! Good to know that about Zicam.

I was actually interested in trying that stuff. Glad I didn't.

[amitten]

5. Yeah...the lozenges work wonders, though. I used them for the

first time with a really bad cold recently. Definitely shortened the duration of the cold!

[Grateful for Hope]

6. Wow

I hadn't heard this. I am so glad I have never opted to use nasal sprays. My heart goes out to those who are affected by this.

[crikkett]

4. Great info, thanks. Dietary sources of alpha-lipoic acid include:

Dietary Sources

Good food sources of alpha-lipoic acid include spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast (particularly Brewer's yeast), and certain organ meats (such as the kidney and heart).

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm


...so take two stouts and call me in the morning... :party: