Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that is similar to many vitamins. It has many applications and can be dissolved in either fat or water. ALA is naturally produced in the body and is present in some foods, most notably animal livers and yeast.
ALA is able to stimulate the activity of many other antioxidants like vitamins C and E, the most powerful antioxidant, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10.
ALA could be very effective for diabetics. It stimulates the absorption of glucose in type-2 diabetes, the most common type. It also protects against glycosylation, which is the unnatural bonding of sugar and protein, and has been effective in treating nerve damage and pain that come from diabetes.
When they first identified it, doctors thought that ALA was a vitamin. However, we now know that ALA is naturally produced in the body and so it is not considered an essential vitamin any more.
by the Harvard School of Public Health
It has been asked by millions of people “If you eat a healthy diet, do you need to take vitamins?” Not very long ago, the common answer from most experts and professionals would have been an emphatic "no". However, today there's quite a bit of evidence that taking a daily multivitamin makes good sense for most adults.
by the Mayoclinic Staff
Given the popularity and availability of “high potency” amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes and herbs, it might seem like dietary supplements could replace food as a source of the nutrients the body requires. However, this is not the case.
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