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01/03/2012
Vinco's Smart PS™ - The Smart Choice Vinco's Smart PS™ finished dosage softgels feature an exclusive fluid dispersion phosphatidylserine material that has significantly enhanced stability for maximum brain benefits. Research in animals and humans has shown.....
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01/02/2012
Happy New Year! We, here at Vinco, would like to start off the New Year on the right foot by thanking you for your continued support.
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Alpha-Lipoic Acid
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Item # V-ALA
60 capsules per bottle
Dietary Supplement
• A powerful metabolic antioxidant
• Energy producer
• Heavy metal eliminator
• Recycles other antioxidants
• Regulates blood glucose
PROFESSIONAL FORMULATION
Overview
Alpha-lipoic acid is one of the most powerful antioxidants ever discovered. It is a vitamin-like sulfur-containing compound that is synthesized naturally in the human body. Sometimes it is referred to as alpha-lipoate, thioctic acid, or just lipoic acid. One of its most important characteristics is that it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble. This enables it to provide antioxidant protection in a much wider range of physiological environments throughout the body, which has resulted in some scientists referring to alpha-lipoic acid as the "universal" antioxidant. In the body, alpha-lipoic acid is converted to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), which also functions as a strong antioxidant. Lipoic acid is part of two enzyme systems: PDH (pyruvate dehydrogenase) and alphaketoglutarate dehydrogenase. These enzymes are part of the Krebs cycle and are essential in the production of energy.
Functions in the Body
Energy Production - Functions as a co-enzyme cofactor in the pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase mitochondrial enzyme complexes in the production of energy.(1)
Heavy Metal Detoxification - Lipoic acid reduces the toxicity from toxic metals such as mercury,(2) cadmium,(3) and lead.(4) It is also able to form stable complexes with copper, manganese, and zinc ions.(5)
Recycling of other Antioxidants - Able to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10.(6,7,8,9)
Regulation of Blood Glucose - Increases glucose uptake into muscle cells.(10)
Universal Antioxidant - Because it is able to function in both fat- and water-soluble environments throughout the human body, lipoic acid has been called the “universal” antioxidant.(11,12)
Clinical Applications
Aids - Alpha-lipoic acid blocks the activation of a substance called NF-kappa B, which is necessary for the transcription of the HIV virus. Thus, alpha-lipoic acid may play an important therapeutic role in HIV-infected individuals.(13) In a study with HIV-infected patients, supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid provided a variety of benefits related to antioxidant status, T-helper lymphocytes,
and the T-helper/suppressor cell ration.(14)
Alzheimer’s Disease - The authors of a small study in Germany reported that lipoic acid may be a successful 'neuroprotective' agent in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Nine patients were administered 600 mg/day of alpha-lipoic acid in conjunction with their standard treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs over a period ranging from approximately 8.5 to 14 months. This treatment lead to a stabilization of cognitive function as evidenced by constant scores in two standard neuropsychological tests commonly used to assess AD patients.(15)
Amanita mushroom poisoning - Lipoic acid has been used successfully alone and in combination with other agents in patients with amanita mushroom poisoning.(16,17,18)
Cardiovascular Disease - Oxidative stress plays a major role in the aging of the cardiovascular system. The administered lipoic acid to aged rats significantly reduced the level of oxidant production in cardia myocytes, down to the level found in young nonsupplemented rats. Lipoic acid also restored myocardial vitamin C levels and reduced oxidative damage to DNA. This animal study suggests that the aging of the heart in the elderly is at least in part due to oxidative stress in mitochondria of cardiac myocytes, and that lipoic acid may provide significant protection against this process.(19) Cataract studies have shown that alpha-lipoic acid's antioxidant activity and its ability to regenerate glutathione help to prevent the type of damage in eyes that leads to the development of cataracts.(20)
Diabetes - Alpha-lipoic acid increases glucose uptake into muscle cells and increases insulin sensitivity in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.(21,22) Also, alpha-lipoic acid’s antioxidant activity helps protect against many of the health risks associated with diabetes.(23)
Diabetic Neuropathy - In experimental diabetic neuropathy, alpha-lipoic acid provides increased nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress, and improves distal nerve conduction.(24) In humans, it has been demonstrated that oral administration of 600 mg/day of lipoic acid can prevent or improve diabetic neuropathy, which may be due to a lowering of lipid peroxidation.(25)
Glaucoma - Over 50 percent of patients with stage II open angle glaucoma exhibited significant improvement when given 150 mg of alpha-lipoic acid
for a period of 2 months.(26)
Hepatitis C - It has been reported that alpha-lipoic acid, in combination with selenium and silymarin, is an effective and far less expensive treatment for hepatitis C, compared to conventional therapy. Three closely monitored cases involved cirrhosis, portal hypertension and esophageal varicies secondary to hepatitis C. Each patient received the antioxidant combinatino and had their hepatitis C complication resolved. The patients returned to work, resumed their normal daily activities and reported feeling healthy, avoiding liver transplantation. Whereas liver transplantation is estimated to cost more than $300,000 a year, the annual cost of this triple antioxidant therapy is approximately $2,000.(27)
Peripheral Neuropathy - Diabetic individuals treated with alpha-lipoic acid experienced significant improvement in nerve conduction and nerve blood flow.(28)
Precautions
Because of its ability to lower elevated blood sugar levels, it should be used with caution in people with diabetes or hypoglycemia.(29,30) There are no known toxicities associated with alpha-lipoic acid. Occasional skin rashes have been reported.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
1. Evans JL, Goldfine ID. Alpha-Lipoic acid: a multifunctional antioxidant that improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. Sep 200;2(3):401-13.
2. Anuradha B, Varalakshmi P. Protective role of DL-alpha-lipoic acid against mercury-induced nerual lipid peroxidation. Pharmacol Res. Jan 1999;39(1):67-80
3.Sumathi R, Baskaran G, Varalakshmi P. Relationship between glutathione and DL alpha-lipoic acid against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity. Jpn J Med Sci Biol. Apr 1996;49(2):39-48.
4. Gurer H, Ozgunes H, Oztezcan S, Ercal N. Antioxidant role of alpha-lipoic acid in lead toxicity. Free Radic Biol Med. Jul 1999;27(1-2):75-81.
5. Sigel H, Prijs B, McCormick DB, Shih JCH. Stability and structure of binary and ternary complexes of a-lipoate and lipoate derivatives with Mn2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ in solution. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1978;187:208-214.
6. Packer L, Witt EH, Tritschler HL. aplha-Lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med. Aug 1995;19(2):227-50.
7. Stoyanovshy DA, Goldman R, Darrow RM, et al. Endogenous ascorbate regenerates vitamin E in the retina directly and in combination with exogenous dihydrolipoic acid. Curr Eye Res. Mar 1995;14(3):181-9.
8. Busse E, Zimmer G, Schopohl B, et al. Influence of alpha-lipoic acid on intracellular glutathione in vitro and in vivo. Arzneimittel-Forschung. 1992;42:829-831.
9. Kagan V, Serbinova E, Packer L. Antioxidant effects of ubiquinones in microsomes and mitochondria are mediated by tocopherol recycling. Biochem Biophys Res Comm. 1990;169:851-857.
10. Estrada DE, Ewart HS, Tsakiridis T, et al. Stimulation of glucose uptake by the natural coenzyme alpha-lipoic acid/thioctic acid: participation of elements of the insulin signaling pathway. Diabetes. 1996;45:1798-1804.
11. Kagan VE, Shvedova A, Serbinova E, et al. Dihydrolipoic acid--a universal antioxidant both in the membrane and in the aqueous phrase. Reduction of peroxyl, ascorbyl and chromanoxyl radicals. Biochem Pharmacol. Oct 1992;44(8):1637-49.
12. Monograph:Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Altern Med Rev. Aug 1998;3(4):308-11.
13. Merin JP, et al. Alpha-lipoic Acid Blocks HIV-1 LTR-dependent Expression of Hygromycin Resistance in THP-1 Stable Transformants. FEBS Lett. Sep1996;394(1):9-13.
14. Fuchs J, et al. Studies on Lipoate Effects on Blood Redox State in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients. Arzneim Forsch. 1993;43:1359-362.
15. Hager K, Marahrens A, Kenklies M, et al. Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Azheimer type dementia. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. Jun 2001;32(3):275-282.
16. Berkson BM. Thioctic acid in treatment of hepatotoxic mushroom (Phalloides) poisoning. N Engl J Med. Feb 1979;300(7):371.
17. Plotzker R, Jensen DM, Payne JA. Case report. Amanita virosa acute hepatic necrosis: treatment with thioctic acid. Am J Med Sci. Mar 1982;283(2):79-82.
18. Parish RC, Doering PL. Treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning: a review. Vet Hum Toxicol. Aug 1986;28(4):318-22.
19. Suh JH, Shigeno ET, Morrow JD, et al. Oxidative stress in the aging rat heart is reversed by dietary supplementation with (R)-(alpha)-lipoic acid. FASEB J. Mar 2001;15(3):700-6.
20. Kilic F, et al. Modelling Cortical Cataractogenesis XX. In Vitro Effect of Alpha-lipoic Acid on Glutathione Goncentrations in Lens in Model Diabetic Cataractogenesis. Biochem Mol Biol Int. Oct 1998;46(3):585-95.
21. Jacob S, et al. Enhancement of Glucose Disposal in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes by Alpha-lipoic Acid. Arzneimittelforschung. Aug 1995;45(8):872-74.
22. Evans JL, Goldfine ID. Alpha-lipoic acid: a multifunctional antioxidant that improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. Sep 2000;2(3):401-13.
23. Packer L. Antioxidant Properties of Lipoic Acid and Its Therapeutic Effects in Prevention of Diabetes Complications and Cataracts. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Nov 1994;738:257-64.
24. Nagamatsu M, et al. Lipoic acid improves nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress, and improves distal nerve conduction in experimental diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Care. 1995;18:1160-167.
25. Androne L, Gavan NA, Veresiu IA, Orasan R. In vivo effect of lipoic acid on lipid peroxidation in patients with diabetic neuropathy. In Vivo. Mar 2000;14(2):327-30.
26. Filina AA, et al. Lipoic Acid as a Means of Metabolic Therapy of Open-angle Glaucoma. Vestn Oftalmol. Dec 1995;111(4):6-8.
27. Berkson BM. A conservative triple antioxidant approach to the treatment of hepatitis C. Combination of alpha lipoic acid (thioctic acid), silymarin, and selenium: three case histories. Med Klin. Oct 1999;94(Suppl 3):84-9.
28.Low PA, et al. The Roles of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Treatment in Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy. Diabetes. Sept 1997;46(Suppl 2):S38-42.
29. 1. Evans JL, Goldfine ID. Alpha-Lipoic acid: a multifunctional antioxidant that improves insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. Sep 200;2(3):401-13.
30. Konrad D. The antihyperglycemic drug alpha-lipoic acid stimulates glucose uptake via both GLUT4 translocation and GLUT4 activation: potentail role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in GLUT4 activation. Diabetes. Jun 2000;50(6):1464-71.
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