Healthy Weight Loss With Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a well known dietary antioxidant that has been shown to have multiple antioxidant functions including the scavenging of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, the regeneration of other antioxidants and the enhancement of at least one of our own cellular antioxidants.  Alpha lipoic acid is found in several foods including organ meats like liver and kidney and plants like broccoli and spinach.  However, absorption of ALA from food is reported to be very low; therefore, individuals taking ALA for its antioxidant benefits generally take a dietary supplement.  While it has been suggested that ALA might have a number of health benefits related to its antioxidant function, little is known about its utility in weight management practices.

A new obesity research study explored the possible weight loss benefits of alpha lipoic acid.  For this obesity research study, investigators treated nearly 600 obese and nearly 500 pre-obese men and women with 800 mg alpha lipoic acid per day for a total of 4 months.  On average, pre-obese men and women lost about 8% of their body weight, reduced their body mass index (BMI) by 2 points, and reduced their waist size by about 2.5 to 3 inches.  Similarly, consuming alpha lipoic acid daily for 4 months resulted in a 9% decrease in body weight, a 3-4 point decrease in BMI, and a reduction in waist size of 3.5 to 4" in obese men and women.

This is an interesting study that will need some additional follow-up and confirmation.  While these obesity research results were very positive, this study did not appear to have a control group of individuals that did not take the alpha lipoic acid supplement.  Furthermore, the study summary does not indicate if the study participants were following any diet and/or exercise regimens in addition to taking alpha lipoic acid daily for 4 months.  Previous research in rodents suggests that alpha lipoic acid successfully induced weight loss by reducing food intake and enhancing energy expenditure.  Alpha lipoic acid is a very popular antioxidant that some consider to be a "universal" antioxidant because of its unique characteristic of being both fat- and water-soluble.  Despite its antioxidant benefits, more research is needed to confirm its role in any healthy weight loss program.  If you choose to use diet pills, whether it is alpha lipoic acid or one of the other popular diet pills, it is important to remember that these are best used as part of an overall weight loss strategy that includes appropriate caloric intake and adequate amounts of exercise.

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