ALA Treats Obesity-Related Diseases

ROMEAlpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an ideal antioxidant candidate" for treating obesity-related diseases, according to a recent study from an Italian hospital (Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16(7):840-6). Researchers found ALA reduced weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and waist size after four months of supplementation.

To investigate the beneficial effects of ALA in Italian pre-obese and obese subjects, researchers at the Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo-Forlanini added the fatty acid to the diets of 1,127subjects (445 men and 682 women, aged 18 to 60). According to BMI, 53 percent of the participants were obese and 43 percent were pre-obese. For four months, each subject received a daily supplement of 800 mg of ALA.

In pre-obese subject, the researchers reported a significant reduction in weight (8 percent for both men and women) (P<0.001), BMI (2 points on average), blood pressure and abdominal circumference (females waists were reduced an average of 6 cm; for males, the average was a 7-cm reduction).

Obese subjects also experienced significant reductions in these parameters. They experienced a decrease in weight (9 percent for both men and women) (P<0.001), BMI (females decreased 3 points on average and males decreased 4 points on average), blood pressure and abdominal circumference (females decreased 9 cm on average and males decreased 11 cm on average).

ALAis often called the universal antioxidant," because it is both fat and water soluble, meaning it can be passed from cells to bloodstream, and is used throughout the entire body. The Italian researchers of this study noted ALA has been shown to prevent or retard oxidation lipid peroxidation, which damages cells as causes numerous diseases.  

Health benefits previously attributed to ALA include: reducing insulin resistance; prolonging the antioxidant effects of vitamin E, vitamin C and glutathione; reducing oxidative stress; enhancing brain function; reducing eye damage; lessening nerve damage and pain; reducing chronic fatigue syndrome; decreasing risk cancer; lowering liver disease risk; slashing high blood pressure (in combination with acetyl-L-carnitine); reducing high cholesterol; and promoting weight loss.