Natrol's Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg 60Caps

Dosage 100 mg. Size: 60 capFor Healthy individuals, take 100mg daily with meal. For diabetics, take up to 800mg a day under physician's supervision. Be patient, as the results take weeks to develop. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA also known as thioctic acid) is a vitamin-like natural antioxidant. ALA is sometimes referred to as the "Ultimate universal antioxidant," since it is soluble in both fat and water. ALA helps regenerate other antioxidants that have been used up. The body makes small amounts of alpha lipoic acid. ALA has several potential benefits for diabetics. It enhances glucose uptake in non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), inhibits glycosylation (the abnormal attachment of sugar to protein), and has been used to improve diabetic nerve damage and reduce pain associated with that nerve damage. Oral supplementation has proved partially helpful in treating diabetic neuropathy, using 800 mg per day. There is preliminary evidence that ALA, taken in the amount of 150 mg daily for one month, improves visual function in people with glaucoma. ALA has been shown to inhibit the replication of the HIV virus in the test tube. ALA has been given to people who have eaten poison mushrooms, significantly increasing the survival rate. ALA is presently used in therapy for a variety of liver and kidney disorders due to free radical damage.The amount of ALA used in research to improve diabetic neuropathies is 600-800 mg per day and 150 mg per day for glaucoma. 100-200 mg per day is recommended for general antioxidant protection. Side Effect: Rare but can include skin rash and the potential of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Diabetics taking diabetic drugs should always monitor their blood glucose level when taking ALA at the same time. Scientific StudiesSeveral open studies show benefits for oral Alpha lipoic acid in reducing symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy .The DEKAN (Deutsche Kardiale Autonome Neuropathie) study followed 73 people with diabetes who had symptoms caused by nerve damage affecting the heart. Treatment with 800 mg daily of oral ALA showed statistically significant improvement.Preliminary evidence suggests that Alpha lipoic acid may improve other aspects of diabetes as well, including circulation in small blood vessels, metabolism of sugar and protein, and the body's response to insulin