Alpha-lipoic Acid (thioctic acid, vitamin N)

A non-vitamin nutrient essential for life it helps in producing energy reaction in the human body. The benefits of this non-vitamin are that it helps in neutralizing the effects of all the free radicals and also helps in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and diabetic neuropathy.

The dosage of this depends upon recommendation of your general physician but then a daily dosage is around 20-50mg as it is used as an antioxidant. The sources of alpha-lipoic acid are spinach, beef, and organ meats of certain animals, broccoli and Brewer’s yeast. There have been no side effects if taken within the recommended dosage.

Alpha lipoic acid helps in neutralizing the effects of the free radicals that enter the body due to outside sources like pollution, smoke etc. It was used in the early 60’s to treat and control the sugar level in the blood; it also helps in the metabolism of the glucose in the body cells. Helps prevent ageing process which is caused due to these free radicals. It increases the energy level in the body as it helps regulate the metabolism in the body and as it is easily absorbed in the body it has its benefits in maintaining the good health of the brain.

Alpha-lipoic acid or thioctic acid also goes by the name of Vitamin N and this is a naturally occurring compound and is synthetically produced by both animals and plants like wise. Lipoic acid is not produced in the body and thus does not find its name under the classification of vitamins. Its work is to enhance the growth factor in some organisms. As such this acid is produced in the body but then supplements of this acid helps it to circulate itself freely in the body.

Though this acid helps in the production of energy in the body its main role is as a diet supplement as it is a power house of antioxidants. Most of the oxidants are either water soluble or oil or fat soluble but lipoic acid is both soluble in water as well as in fat thus it is easily absorbed in the body and transported to all the cell membranes in the body. Apart from this it has the quality of protecting the body from the free radicals which attack the body both from external sources as well as internal sources giving the body an extra protection. It also has the power to generate various antioxidants for e.g. Vitamin C, GSH or growth stimulating hormone, vitamin C which further helps in destroying these free radicals from harming the body both internally as well as externally.

The free radicals are high in energy and are very unstable where its chemical composition is concerned and the work of these free radicals is to cause damage to the DNA cells as well as the proteins and other fats in the body.

The benefit of this acid is to help neutralize the effects or damage caused by the free radicals, apart from this it helps fight heart ailments, infections and cancers, it also works as antioxidants and prevents the damage to cell structure, increases memory power etc.