Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) in Albuquerque

Health Applications of ALA

This powerful antioxidant treatment helps those suffering from diabetes and is a proven anti-cancer agent. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a natural substance produced by the cells throughout our liver…more when we are younger and diminishing with age.

Primarily, ALA’s function is to help metabolize glucose from the food we eat. This may account for part of ALA’s role in relieving diabetic neuropathy, the pain and numbness endured by diabetics in their hands and feet.

ALA also recycles vitamins C and E, helping to prevent deficiencies of these vitamins, while also aiding in the formation of the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione — which acts mainly in the liver to detox the body of current toxic exposures, as well as improve brain function and prevent premature aging.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA, thioctic acid), among other actions, is an essential coenzyme in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl co-enzyme A. Therefore, it is necessary for the production of energy for aerobic organisms. Scientists have found that it can be used medically to help regenerate liver tissue, reverse the complications of diabetes mellitus, slow or stop the growth of cancer cells, and chelate heavy metals, among other actions.

Where do we find ALA?

Alpha lipoic acid is available from the following dietary sources:

​Fruits & Vegetables: Green leafy vegetables including spinach and broccoli are some of the highest sources of ALA. Other sources are tomatoes and potatoes.

Organ Meat: Kidney, heart, and liver (from grass-fed animals is recommended).

Supplements: Supplement dosage size can range from 50-600 mg per day depending on the desired therapeutic effect you wish to achieve. As with any dietary supplement, you should speak with your health care provider to learn if ALA dietary supplementation is right for you.

​Foods with high concentrations of thiol can also be incorporated into the diet to promote the body’s natural ability to produce ALA.

Examples of foods high in cancer-fighting thiols are:

Asparagus

Bok choy

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Chives

Leeks

Peas

Onions

Sauerkraut

Eggs

Garlic

Shallots

Antioxidants Are Essential for Health

The average Western diet is lacking the basic nutrients that our bodies require to not only sustain health but ensure both physical and psychological well-being.​Antioxidants are not merely recommended for healthy living but rather are essential. Antioxidants are one of the body’s defense mechanisms designed to protect cells from the burden of oxidative stress. Hence the word can be broken down into “anti” “oxidants”. Think of other words such as anti-aging, antibacterial, and antidepressant. Can you think of anyone who wants signs of aging or who desires oxidative stress?​Antioxidants are one of the body’s defense mechanisms designed to protect cells from the burden of oxidative stress. A study performed on patients with Down Syndrome concluded that a high antioxidant diet consumed over two years had a significant improvement in the patients’ cognitive abilities.​The primary defense strategy of antioxidants is to neutralize free forms of oxygen known as free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Free radicals are lonely atoms that will do anything for a partner including stealing other atoms from their already tight-knit relationships. As a result, these highly reactive atoms create cellular damage and disturb biochemical processes necessary for maintaining health.​Alpha lipoic acid can be broken down in the body into a form known as dihydrolipoic acid. Both forms of ALA act as potent antioxidants for biological reactions taking place in the mitochondria of our cells. Often referred to as the powerhouse of our cells for their role in generating energy, a deficiency in ALA has been associated with various chronic disorders and different types of cancer.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Has Anti-Cancer Properties

The potential for ALA to treat chronic disease includes various types of cancers. Researchers propose that ALA may benefit individuals with leukemia, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and possibly breast cancer.

Combined with its numerous antioxidant capabilities, ALA has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation as well as apoptosis (programmed cell death) in healthy cells. ALA may actually promote the destruction of cancerous cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Increases Oxygen Production Within Cancer Cells

A 2005 study showed that ALA increased mitochondrial respiration within colon cancer cells, which is significant because cancer cells are known to have mitochondrial dysfunction and an inability to produce oxygen through aerobic respiration. Since cancer cells are characterized as anaerobic, meaning they thrive without oxygen, ALA’s ability to increase oxygen production within the cancer cell is crucial. This rise in oxygen triggered the apoptosis genetic mechanism, leading to the destruction of the mutated cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Versus Chemotherapy

Conventional cancer therapy treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, often exacerbate DNA damage and generate free radicals. Mitomycin C, a chemotherapy drug and antibiotic, is particularly effective at causing cellular damage and depleting antioxidant sources, while radiation not only damages cells but can also contribute to the growth of secondary tumors. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) combats cancer by improving mitochondrial respiration and protecting against DNA damage that leads to cancer cell production. It helps prevent metastatic cancer spread by inhibiting key enzymes tumors use to invade tissues and reducing angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that supply cancer cells. Additionally, for those undergoing chemotherapy, ALA shields normal cells from free-radical stress and inflammation, helping to mitigate side effects such as chemo-induced neuropathy, intestinal damage, and diarrhea. By increasing antioxidant availability, reducing cellular damage, promoting overall health, and directly targeting cancer cells and cancer-promoting factors, ALA serves as a powerful protective agent in cancer therapy.