Lipoic Acid for Weight Loss

One thing you can be sure of -- if one weight loss program doesn't work for you, there's always another one. People even find weight loss help in medications and supplements that aren't designed for weight loss. Such is the case with lipoic acid

Lipoic Acid

• Lipoic acid (or alpha-lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is a short-chain saturated fatty acid with two sulfur atoms. It acts as an anti-oxidant that offers a lot of health benefits. Its main role is to increase glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. It can be found in small amounts in many foods, particularly leafy vegetables, potatoes and organ meat.

Research

• Research in Korea studied obese rats. During a 14-week study, the rats were fed a diet that contained the human equivalent of 600 mg of lipoic acid and a control group received no lipoic acid. The control group had a 47 percent weight gain while the rats that received lipoic acid gained only 18 percent. The researchers also found a reduction in the rats' blood sugar and free fatty acid levels. The findings have been confirmed by other research, such as a 2008 study at the Linus Pauling Institute and College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University and the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington. There's been no studies of alpha lipoic acid's effect on weight loss in humans as of 2009 and what evidence there is at this point is anecdotal.

Preserve Muscle

• Alpha lipoic acid is popular among bodybuilders because they don't have to sacrifice muscle mass to lose fat. This is because alpha lipoic acid helps direct blood glucose into muscle cells rather than fat cells. This will actually increase muscle size even as it helps the body shed fat.

Dosage

• It will take several weeks of taking alpha lipoic acid before you begin to see a difference. Dosages range from 600 to 1,800 mg a day, spread over three doses. This range is generally recommended for people looking for help with diabetes and atheroschlerosis, according to www.nutrasanus.com. Weight loss is a side benefit of the supplement, so if you are otherwise healthy, a dosage on the low end should be sufficient to help your weight loss.

Side Effects

• Alpha lipoic acid has no major side effects. The greater the dose, the more likely it is you will experience nausea or an upset stomach. Higher doses may also cause low blood sugar, which could create a feeling of sluggishness.