Q: How does alpha lipoic acid work?

A: That’s a great question, and to be honest, one that more consumers should be asking before they buy supplements. We live in very exciting times; just over the last century or so we’ve discovered most vitamins. Over the past couple decades alone, we have discovered many enzymes and important nutrients our bodies use. Alpha lipoic acid is one of these breakthrough discoveries – it’s so important, yet not many people don’t even understand how alpha lipoic acid works!

Here are the two basic things that ALA does…

Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant: This is a term most of us are more familiar about. An antioxidant is an organic substance that has the ability to counteract the harmful effects of oxidation in animal tissue. What is oxidation? Well that’s the process of what turns an apple brown so quickly after you cut it and expose it to the air. In the same way, this process is not good for our bodies. Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that helps to fight off damaging free radicals.

Alpha lipoic acid has metabolic properties: What is unique about ALA is that it is also plays a role in the food we consume and how our bodies metabolize and convert it to energy. It is said the 95% of our body’s cellular energy is produced by a process called ATP (which involves many different enzymes). Alpha lipoic acid acts as a catalyst in the production of acetyl-coenzyme A, as well as a number of other vital enzymes. Those enzymes are how our bodies convert fatty acids and glucose into energy. Therefore, although ALA is not directly used by our body, it reportedly helps us produce these essential enzymes which are needed for energy production.

In addition to these two major things, ALA is also suspected to help other antioxidants through a synergistic approach – therefore when combined with other antioxidants, the benefits of all of them working together are said to be greater.

How much alpha lipoic acid is optimal?
Researchers have not yet nailed down the exact “ideal” amount of alpha lipoic acid. However this comes as no surprise, as scientists are still in disagreement as to how much vitamin C is considered to be ideal! However as of today, many are recommending alpha lipoic acid dosage ranging from 100 mg to 600 mg per day in the form of a supplement. Fortunately, even the best alpha lipoic acid supplements are very affordable, so this is a very easy thing for us to do.