ALPHA LIPOIC ACID
an essential antioxidant

The search for disease prevention continues as scientists research not only the effects of free radical damage but also how to correct and prevent the destruction of cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (Thioctic Acid) now joins Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta carotene, Selenium
as an exciting free radical scavenging agent.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a naturally occurring coenzyme that inhibits oxyradical damage and potentiates antioxidant effects of other vitamins.

The Alpha Lipoic Acid molecule is water and fat soluble which allows for optimum absorption.

This supplement has been researched for 50 years for its effect on conditions such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, cerebral damage, heavy metal poisoning and radiation damage. The findings show that it is an effective radical scavenger,metal chelator and a metabolizer of glucose which assists brain and muscle energy metabolism. Early studies found that when used as a dietary supplement protected against symptoms of vitamin E and C deficiencies.

Extensive studies on type I and II diabetes and Alpha Lipoic Acid have found results which suggest the suppression of the onset of diabetes as well as proper utilization and disposal of glucose.
(Packer et al., 1995)

Glucose utilization is an important aid to brain and skeletal muscle metabolism during exercise.
(Barbiroli et al., 1995)

Protection against atherosclerosis is another benefit offered to diabetics,
a group which is more prone to heart disease.

In Germany, Alpha Lipoic Acid is approved for use on diabetic neuropathy and studies reveal that when administered with other antioxidents showed improved biochemical function. (Packer et al., 1995)
In cases where Alpha Lipoic Acid has been administered to subjects with ischemia reperfusion, it demonstrated protective effects against the damage which occurs when there is head trauma, stroke, or cardiac arrest. (Phillis et al., 1994 & Packer et al., 1995)

Where radiation exposure is present, studies tested Alpha Lipoic Acid with Vitamin E treatments in subjects found that it helps restore normal organ function and battle oxidative damage.
(Packer et al., 1995)

The chelating properties of Alpha Lipoic Acid are also being explored for their effectiveness on heavy metal toxicity, especially arsenite, cadmium and mercury. (Peimian et al., 1995)

To date, there have been no studies in vivo or in vitro which have shown serious side effects
with Alpha Lipoic Acid. (packer et al., 1995)

In my opinion, supplementation can yield amazing cell protection against oxidative damage, metal toxicity, aiding energy production and metabolizing glucose, to assist the body in maximum performance.
When used in conjunction with the basic antioxidants, Alpha Lipoic Acid can be an excellent supplement choice to maintaining cell health and provide optimum free radical defense.

ADVERSE PRESCRIPTION DRUG EFFECTS

The Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct. 9,1995 reports that preventable prescription drug-related diseases and deaths cost us $77 billion a year. When used as they are intended and by competent Physicians they can and do help, but the way they are overused today is "inflicting damage" at the rate of 9 million dollars a minute!!! Aproximately eight million people per year are hospitalized (28% of all admissions) for diseases induced by drugs that were supposed to improve their health. Even more alarming is the fact that adverse drug effects are responsible for 100,000 deaths a year - more than twice the number that die in car accidents.

Why does the FDA use enormous resources to stop safe alternatives to drug therapies such as herbs and nutritional supplements while allowing one industry to produce, distribute and use substances that clearly cause the death of more people than illegal drugs, nutritional supplements and auto accidents combined??

The Effect of Folate and Cobalamin (B-12)
on Osteoarthritic Hands.

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Historically diet and arthritis have been cause/effect associated but the idea is controversial with little evidence that specific diet components are effective treatment. This controlled, double-blinded, crossover study reports the effect of folate and cobalmin(B-12) supplements in 26 humans diagnosed for an average 5.7 years with idiopathic osteoarthritis of the hands who had medicated by prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAID).

METHODS: Subjects entered the study after a 10-day washout period from use of all anti-arthritis drugs, vitamins, and minerals. They were randomly allocated to consume daily 6400 micrograms folate or 6400 micrograms folate plus 20 micrograms cobalmin(B-12) or lactose placebo each for 2 months within self-selected diets. Pain was to be medicated by acetaminophem as needed, and at the end of each phase they returned for assessment and dispensing of the next treatment. Serum folate and cobalmin, red blood cell folate, blood smears, diet records, standard rheumatology assessment and hand grip measurements were reviewed and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS:   For all subjects mean right and left hand grip values were higher with combined cobalmin-folate ingestion than with other vitamin supplements and were equivalent to NSAID use.
Number of tender hand joints were greater with use of NSAID than with use of cobalmin-folate. Side effects with the vitamin combination were none; side effects of NSAID are many, and the cost of vitamins and acetaminophen also is lower.

CONCLUSION:  The limited number of subjects in this study demonstrates that ingestion of a prescribed cobalmin-folate supplement and acetaminophen as needed resulted in positive outcomes.
Flynn, MA; Irvin W; Krause G, Jour AmerColl Nutr 13(4) August (1994): 351-6

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