Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Page last modified on: July 22, 2008
Also known as: ALA, biletan, acetate replacing factor, thioctic acid.
Potential uses: An antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid is said to help a variety of ailments, including diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, dementia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Usual dose: Oral doses range from 300 to 1,200 milligrams per day.
Are there any risks? Clinical trials lasting from four months to two years have shown no significant side effects from taking alpha-lipoic acid. But no research has looked at taking it for longer than that.
What does the research show? Studies show that alpha-lipoic acid helped improve insulin response in people with diabetes. But no research has shown that alpha-lipoic acid offers any benefits for women with breast cancer.
