Geoffrey Leigh
MSc.,ND.D.N.Sc.

Lipoic Acid - Health Benefits

Health Benefits of Lipoic Acid

Aging Process

Lipoic Acid may retard some aspects of the Aging Process: references

- Lipoic Acid may inhibit damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) - the principal detrimental process implicit in the Mitochondrial DNA Theory of Aging.

Lipoic Acid may possess Life Extension properties. references

Cardiovascular System

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent Atherosclerosis. references
Lipoic Acid may lower Blood Pressure in Hypertension patients. references
Lipoic Acid may reduce Pain in Intermittent Claudication patients. references

Lipoic Acid may protect against the toxic effects of Ischemia (i.e. it may protect against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury). references
Lipoic Acid may inhibit the ability of Peroxyl Free Radicals to damage Red Blood Cells. references
Lipoic Acid (when consumed prior to the occurrence of an Ischemic Stroke) may minimize the Brain damage incurred by people who experience an Ischemic Stroke (due to the Antioxidant effects of Lipoic Acid). references

Cells

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent Free Radicals damage to Cell Membranes. references
Lipoic Acid may help to preserve the Mitochondria of Cells. references

Ears/Hearing

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent some forms of Deafness. references

- Lipoic Acid may retard the further progression of Age-Related Hearing Loss (by retarding damage to mitochondrial DNA in the Ears’ Cochlea). references
- Lipoic Acid (25 mg per day or more) may help to reverse Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. references

Lipoic Acid may inhibit damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the Cochlea. references

Excretory System

Lipoic Acid may prevent the damage to the Kidneys (Diabetic Nephropathy) that is a common side effect of Diabetes Mellitus and Lipoic Acid may inhibit Angiotensin 2-induced Kidney damage. references

Eyes/Vision

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) (due to the Antioxidant properties of Lipoic Acid; Lipoic Acid may penetrate Eye tissue and protect both the Lens and the Retina from degeneration). references
Lipoic Acid may reduce the risk of Cataracts in Diabetes Mellitus patients and in normal, healthy persons. references

- Lipoic Acid may inhibit the activation of Aldose Reductase (an enzyme that is implicated in Cataracts due to its ability to catalyze the production of Galacticol and Sorbitol from Galactose and Glucose).

Lipoic Acid may alleviate Glaucoma. references
Lipoic Acid may protect the Lens of the Eye from degeneration.
Lipoic Acid (600 mg per day) improves (the chronic progressive external form of) Opththalmoplegia. references

Lipoic Acid may protect the Retina of the Eye from degeneration. [more info]

Immune System

Lipoic Acid (450 mg per day) may improve the overall health of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients. references

- Lipoic Acid may increase the plasma Glutathione levels of AIDS patients.
- Lipoic Acid may increase the plasma Vitamin C levels of AIDS patients.
- Lipoic Acid may retard the replication of the HIV Virus (by inhibiting the HIV Viral Reverse Transcriptase enzyme that participates in the replication of HIV, and by inhibiting Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-Kappa B) that activates HIV replication). references

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent Cancer (damage to the body’s Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is one of the underlying mechanisms for the initiation of Cancer - Lipoic Acid inhibits the ability of Free Radicals to damage DNA): references

- Lipoic Acid may stimulate the apoptosis (cell death) of Liver Cancer cells. references

Lipoic Acid may stimulate various aspects of the Immune System. [more info]
Lipoic Acid may reduce Inflammation (primarily by inhibiting Nuclear Factor Kappa-B) references

Liver

Lipoic Acid (600 mg per day) may be useful for the treatment of Hepatitis C (especially when it is combined with Selenium and Milk Thistle). references
Lipoic Acid has been used therapeutically to treat Liver ailments and it may protect the Liver from the toxic effects of many Pharmaceutical Drugs and Toxins: references

- Lipoic Acid is an effective therapy in the treatment of Liver damage caused by toxic Mushrooms, Alcohol (ethanol), Carbon Tetrachloride and toxic Minerals.

Metabolism

Lipoic Acid possesses Antioxidant properties (it functions as both a water-soluble and a fat-soluble Antioxidant). references

- Lipoic Acid is a potent scavenger of Hydroxyl Free Radicals. references
- Lipoic Acid may inhibit the ability of Peroxyl Free Radicals to damage Red Blood Cells. references
- Lipoic Acid may scavenge Peroxynitrite Free Radicals.

Lipoic Acid may increase the body’s Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). [more info]
Lipoic Acid may normalize Blood Sugar levels. [more info]
Lipoic Acid (500 - 800 mg per day) may increase Energy levels in some Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients. references

Lipoic Acid may inhibit the Cross-Linking of the body’s endogenous Proteins (including Cross-Linking caused by Glucose). references
Lipoic Acid (Dihydrolipoic Acid form) may be useful for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (due to its ability to inhibit Elastase and to exert anti-mucolytic actions). references

Lipoic Acid may prevent and alleviates many of the detrimental side effects that occur as a result of Diabetes Mellitus (both Type 1 and Type 2): references

- Lipoic Acid may prevent the onset of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1. references
- Lipoic Acid may improve Glucose utilization and disposal in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients. references
- Lipoic Acid may reduce the incidence of Cataracts in Diabetes Mellitus patients (by inhibiting the Aldose Reductase enzyme that is implicated in Cataracts).
- Lipoic Acid prevents the damage to the Kidneys (Diabetic Nephropathy) that is a common side effect of Diabetes Mellitus. references

- Lipoic Acid may prevent the (diabetic) Neuropathy that is a common side effect of Diabetes Mellitus. references

Lipoic Acid may increase Brain and Muscle Energy levels. references
Lipoic Acid may facilitate Muscle recovery from Exercise. references
Lipoic Acid may be useful for the treatment of Hemochromatosis (due to its ability to counteract Iron-induced Free Radicals damage). references

Lipoic Acid (300 - 600 mg per day) may reduce Insulin Resistance (i.e. it may increase Insulin sensitivity). references
Lipoic Acid may protect the Islets of Langerhans from Free Radicals damage. references
Lipoic Acid may facilitate weight loss in persons afflicted with Obesity. references

Lipoic Acid may lower elevated serum Triglycerides. references

Musculoskeletal System

Lipoic Acid (600 mg per day) may improve the body's utilization of Glucose within the Muscles and may increase the body’s production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) within the Muscles. references
Lipoic Acid (after its conversion to DHLA) may help to prevent Osteoporosis. references

Oral Health

Lipoic Acid may alleviate Burning Mouth Syndrome. references

Nervous System

Lipoic Acid (600 mg per day) may help to prevent Altitude Sickness and may reduce the symptoms of Altitude Sickness. references
Lipoic Acid (600 mg per day) may stabilize Mental Function in Alzheimer’s Disease patients. references
Lipoic Acid may protect the Brain against the toxic effects of Ischemia and increases Brain Energy levels. references

Lipoic Acid may alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. references
Lipoic Acid may minimize the Brain damage that occurs after Head Injuries. references
Lipoic Acid may increase survival time in Huntington’s Disease patients. references

Lipoic Acid may improve Memory (in elderly persons): references

- Lipoic Acid may improve Spatial Memory (in elderly persons). references
- Lipoic Acid may enhance Long-Term Memory (in elderly persons). references

Lipoic Acid may inhibit the ability of Mercury to damage Neurons. [more info]
Lipoic Acid may help to prevent and treat Multiple Sclerosis. references
Lipoic Acid may alleviate Migraines. references

Lipoic Acid may be useful for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. references
Lipoic Acid may reduce the Pain associated with Sciatica. references
Lipoic Acid may help to preserve the Sense of Smell. references

- Lipoic Acid may alleviate Anosmia (especially when Anosmia is caused by Upper Respiratory Tract Infections). references

Lipoic Acid may help to prevent Haloperidol-induced Tardive Dyskinesia. references
Lipoic Acid may improve the Sense of Taste. references

 

Respiratory System

Lipoic Acid may be useful for the treatment of Asthma. references


Skin

Lipoic Acid (cream/lotion applied topically) may accelerate the healing of the Scarring caused by Acne. references
Lipoic Acid (1% lotion applied topically for approximately two weeks) may alleviate Enlarged Pores. references
Lipoic Acid (cream/lotion applied topically) may accelerate the healing of the Scarring caused by Acne. references

Lipoic Acid (1% cream/lotion applied topically) may improve the visual appearance of the Skin and helps to reverse the Aging Process in the Skin: references

- Lipoic Acid (applied topically) may reduce the appearance of “Eye puffiness” (which is actually Edema in the area around the Eyes).
- Lipoic Acid (1% cream/lotion applied topically) may reduce fine lines and Wrinkles. references







In-Tele-Health © 2009 (from Hyperhealth Pro CD-ROM)