How is alpha lipoic acid supposed to work for weight loss?
For years, anti-aging enthusiasts have used the nutritional supplement alpha lipoic acid to enhance memory and boost overall brain function. The results of a new study published in the American Heart Association’s medical journal, Circulation, suggest that the superstar supplement may also promote weight loss and protect against cardiovascular disease. Researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Washington recently discovered that alpha lipoic acid supplementation can help reduce the buildup of cholesterol in blood vessels, potentially decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Compared to untreated rodents, mice receiving alpha lipoic acid supplements showed a 40 to 55 percent reduction in cholesterol plaque formation and had significantly lower triglyceride levels. Based on the results of the study, the researchers concluded that the dietary supplement may be useful in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory process commonly known
Korean scientists have discovered that alpha-lipoic acid can cause substantial weight loss in obese mice, according to a study published in the July issue of Nature Medicine. Until now, Alpha-lipoic acid had only been used in small dosages. Consequently, its weight-dropping function remained undiscovered. Researchers treated obese mice with an increased dosage of ALA—more than what has in the past been used to support the health of diabetics. Almost 100 percent of mice lost weight until they reached their normal weight level. The researchers also investigated the mechanism by which ALA triggers weight loss. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a fuel sensor in the cell and is activated when cellular energy is depleted. Consequently, it triggers an increase in appetite to bring cellular energy back up to a sufficient level. ALA decreases hypothalamic AMPK activity, reducing food intake and enhancing energy expenditure. When the researchers activated hypothalamic AMPK, on the
