What is lipoic acid? It is a light yellow powder with a bitter taste that can be easily mixed with hundreds of other chemicals. However, the unique qualities of the unusual combination of fatty acids and sulfur make you pay a lot of attention to lipoic acid: it helps to lose weight, gives extra energy to the body, protects the brain and perhaps opens the door. to the land of eternal youth for humanity. . . Interested?
Lipoic acid is sometimes known to increase the effectiveness of weight loss exercises. How else can it help the body?
Lipoic acid: Cleansing or Special Forces?
Lipoic acid, also known as LA, is also a thioctic acid, a lipamide, and a vitamin N, often referred to as a semi-vitamin or a substance such as a vitamin.
The synthesis of LA by the human body prevented it from becoming a "complete" vitamin. It is also interesting that lipoic acid is soluble in both oil and water, while other counterparts of "vitamin activity" can only boast of a comfortable living space.
Lipoic acid is the real Figaro: here, there. By accompanying enzymatic reactions in the mitochondria, it helps to make the process of energy production by cells as efficient as possible.
Lipoic acid molecules - miniature recycling plants. The substance "takes" the breakdown products of amino acids and allows our body to squeeze out the absolute maximum of the substances it needs, and then removes all the "waste rocks" from the body.
In recent years, doctors have begun to talk seriously about lipoic acid as the future elixir of eternal youth, as it is a substance that has proven its ability to prevent DNA damage, which is known to be the real cause of cell aging and depletion during experiments. vital functions.
Lipoic acid and weight loss: why it works
Lipoic acid is able to "tame" the forces that force us to gain weight and store excess fat. Its activities in this area are multifaceted. Thus, when losing weight, lipoic acid:
affects the areas of the brain responsible for appetite, reduces hunger;
stimulates energy consumption;
increases insulin sensitivity;
improves the absorption of glucose by cells, reduces its level in the blood;
reduces the tendency of the liver to accumulate fat.
Experience has shown that lipoic acid gives the best results in weight loss along with dietary changes and physical activity. There is a logical explanation for this. With a "change in course" of the diet, chemical changes occur in the body (most often expressed when following a protein, paleo or keto diet, which has the fastest results and the most noticeable side effects) and increased strength and cardio exercises, microtraumas in the muscles.
Therefore, oxidative processes in the body intensify, causing an "increase" in the formation of free radicals and damaged molecules.
Thus, lipoic acid is able not only to neutralize them, but also to absorb them, and then recovers and runs into the antioxidant battle again.
This is another unique quality of lipoic acid: it is the only "reusable" antioxidant.
In addition, vitamin N is friendly: lipoic acid can interact with other substances that fight free radicals (vitamins C and E, as well as glutathione) and even increase the effect of its allies.
Is alpha lipoic acid first?
Researchers first managed to extract lipoic acid from beef liver cells in the 1950s. Therefore, alpha-lipoic acid for weight loss began his "doctor's career" as a hepatoprotector. However, scientists have begun to discover more and more new properties of this amazing substance, and in addition, they have learned to synthesize it quite qualitatively in the laboratory.
Today, chemists produce two chemically "mirror-like" variants of lipoic acid for different purposes - R ("right isomer") and S ("left isomer"). There are some differences in their molecular composition, and the human body absorbs only R-type lipoic acid efficiently and almost completely.
The latest methods allow to achieve greater purity of the drug and higher concentrations of R-lipoic acid. Clearly, such a substance has great potential for all the properties inherent in LA, in addition, it has been experimentally proven to be an R-isomer that increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin. However, the production of a pure R-variant of the substance is quite expensive, which, of course, affects the cost of the product.
The most popular is the more favorable alpha-lipoic acid, in which the "right isomer" and the "left isomer" are in equal proportions.
Products with natural lipoic acid
Sakatat: kidneys, heart, liver;
Vegetables: broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, peas, tomatoes;
Other sources: brewer's yeast, brown rice.
When you are not strong enough
Many living organisms (including humans) are able to synthesize a certain amount of lipoic acid on their own - which explains the high concentration of this beneficial substance in the internal organs of animals.
Unfortunately, it is not necessary to rely entirely on LA's food sources: an American expert on functional nutrition, Dr. As Jeffrey Webb explains, our enzymes are not able to "break" the link between alpha-lipoic acid and the amino acid lysine. lipoic acid circulates around the gastrointestinal tract in the form of food. Therefore, we will get only the crumbs of the valuable substance from a dinner rich in ALA.
The question is: what if people could produce a small amount of lipoic acid, and with food, they could get even less, as we did before doctors learned to synthesize it?
The answer is simple: happy organisms that do not suffer from metabolic disorders, are not prone to obesity, and do not accumulate a full load of free radicals, can withstand a sufficient amount of free alpha-lipoic acid. However, in the 21st century, the deterioration of the environment and the rapid deterioration of eating habits have overshadowed lipoic acid.
If you also need the help of an antioxidant, a water- and fat-soluble vitamin, a stimulant of lipid metabolism, and as a bonus, a substance that protects against degenerative brain diseases, discuss the possibility of taking medication with your doctor. supplemental alpha-lipoic acid as a food supplement.
Lipoic acid: how much to take
The standard recommendation your doctor can give you as a supportive and tonic for alpha-lipoic acid is 25-50 mg per day. But the use of a substance such as a vitamin can vary depending on the purpose of use and the health status of the "host".
For those who are engaged in increasing sports loads to lose weight, 100-200 mg of alpha-lipoic acid can often be prescribed as a "meal" as part of a complex preparation containing L-carnitine (levocarnitine). LA enhances the "fat burning" effect of this natural anabolic.
It should be borne in mind that such supplements are taken in strictly time-limited courses so as not to "get used" to the body's constant intake of substances that stimulate metabolism and to avoid withdrawal syndrome, which is accompanied by the body's refusal. to produce these substances arbitrarily.
Because lipoic acid has the ability to maintain the effects of insulin and even partially capture its function in some processes and reactions, diabetics are prescribed doses higher than 400 mg LA per day.
Well-known neurologist David Perlmutter, author of The Brain Nutrition Diet, believes that 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid is a must-have for anyone interested in preventing neurodegenerative diseases and clearing the effects of years of rapid carbohydrate abuse.
In recent American experiments, alpha-lipoic acid, taken at a dose of 1, 800 mg per day for 20 weeks, helped patients with severe obesity lose 9% of their body weight without changing their diet.
If you decide to spend money on a more advanced and expensive R-isomer of lipoic acid, the dose should be halved due to its high bioavailability.
It should be noted that despite all the benefits of lipoic acid, its overdose can cause indigestion and nausea, increased skin sensitivity and muscle aches, as well as a sharp drop in blood sugar levels with all the accompanying "surprises" such as weakness, dizziness. and severe hunger.
Therefore, be sure to consult your doctor before going to the pharmacy to buy a large jar of lipoic acid for rapid weight loss: a specialist will help you determine the dose that is effective and safe for you, your delicacy and health.
Alcohol is strictly contraindicated during the entire period of lipoic acid intake. For best absorption, the supplement should be drunk 60-30 minutes before or at least an hour after a meal.
Significant and noticeable results of the reception of the substance are visible no later than eight weeks.