Lipoic acid, also known as Alpha Lipolic Acid (ALA), Thioctic Acid or Vitamin N, is a natural component of the human body that ensures the proper functioning of the digestive organs. For many years, this remedy has been used to prevent or treat polyneuropathy, and also helps to lose excess weight. Lipolic acid is used in the fight against excess weight because it:
- accelerates metabolism;
- protects the body from dangerous, toxic substances;
- helps normalize the production of pancreatic enzymes;
- has a positive effect on vision;
- helps lower sugar;
- has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
ALA has a preventive effect, eliminating the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. This occurs due to the protective effect on the pancreas. It is the pancreas that produces insulin, and its improper functioning leads to the development of type 1 diabetes. Therefore, it is used to treat diabetes.
Being a powerful antioxidant, the acid protects the body from the effects of heavy metals and salts. By systematically consuming alpha lipoic acid, you can slow down the appearance of signs of old age. Many doctors advise taking alpha-lipolyic acid in a course to achieve better results.
pharmachologic effect
The active component is an endogenous antioxidant that is capable of binding aggressive free radicals . Alpha lipoic acid acts as a coenzyme in the transformation of substances that have pronounced antioxidant effects.
Such substances are capable of exhibiting protective functions in relation to cells, protecting them from the aggressive effects of reactive radicals that are formed during intermediate metabolism, or at the time of the breakdown of foreign exogenous substances (including heavy metals).
The active substance is involved in the mitochondrial metabolism of substances inside the cell. By stimulating the utilization of glucose, thioctic acid is capable of synergizing with insulin . In patients with diabetes mellitus, changes in the level of pyruvic acid concentration in the blood are recorded.
According to the mechanism and nature of the biochemical effect, the active substance is similar to B vitamins . The active substance has a lipotropic effect, which manifests itself in accelerating the utilization processes of lipids in the hepatic system. Lipoic acid can stimulate the transfer of fatty acids from the liver system to various tissues in the body.
The nature of the drug is a detoxification effect when salts of heavy metals enter the body and in case of other poisoning. Thioctic acid changes cholesterol metabolism, improves the general and functional condition of the liver.
Contraindications
It is believed that this drug has virtually no contraindications for use, since the active substance is independently produced in small quantities in the human body.
A contraindication to treatment with lipoic acid is the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Carefully
People with a tendency to allergic reactions or with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis with high acidity, gastric and duodenal ulcers) should take dietary supplements with caution.
Indications for use of Lipoic acid
The medication is widely used in the treatment of liver pathology, the nervous system, alcoholism and intoxication, diabetes mellitus, and to alleviate the course of cancer.
Main indications:
- chronic hepatitis in the active phase;
- chronic pancreatitis due to alcoholism;
- chronic cholecystopancreatitis ;
- acute liver failure;
- intoxication with heavy metals, sleeping pills, carbon, carbon tetrachloride, mushrooms;
- viral hepatitis with increasing jaundice ;
- hepatic cirrhosis;
- diabetic polyneuritis;
- alcoholic polyneuropathy;
- poisoning with toadstool;
- fatty liver degeneration;
- dyslipidemia;
- coronary atherosclerosis .
During a course of treatment with Prednisolone, the medication acts as a corrector and synergist to prevent the development of “withdrawal syndrome” and gradually reduce the dose of glucocorticosteroid.
Lipoic acid for weight loss
The mechanism of action of the active substance allows the medication to be used to lose excess weight. The effect is more pronounced when simultaneously actively playing sports. Lipoic acid can trigger the fat burning mechanism, but it is not possible to burn absolutely all excess fat on its own, so intense physical activity is required.
Muscle tissue “attracts” nutrients during training, and thioctic acid can increase endurance, enhance fat burning and increase the overall effectiveness of physical activity. Simultaneous adherence to the diet allows you to achieve the greatest results.
Lipoic acid dosage for weight loss
Usually 50 mg of medication is sufficient. The minimum threshold is 25 mg. The most effective time to take the drug to achieve maximum results in the fight against excess weight:
- before or immediately after breakfast;
- at the last daily meal;
- after training, physical activity.
Reviews
The drug works well when following a diet and at the same time an active combination of exercises in the gym. On thematic forums, users discover a little secret: the drug works better when taking carbohydrate foods (semolina or buckwheat porridge, dates, honey, pasta, rice, peas, beans, bread products).
Lipoic acid in bodybuilding
Quite often in bodybuilding, thioctic acid is combined with Levocarnitine ( Carnitine , L-carnitine ). This amino acid is a relative of B vitamins and can activate fat metabolism.
Levocarnitine releases fat from cells, stimulating energy expenditure.
Side effects
- diarrhea syndrome;
- epigastric pain;
- nausea;
- anaphylactic reactions;
- skin rashes;
- vomit;
- convulsions;
- increased intracranial pressure ;
- disorders of glucose metabolism ( hypoglycemia );
- migraine -type headache ;
- hives;
- itching;
- tendency to bleeding (with functional disorders of platelets );
- pinpoint hemorrhages;
- diplopia;
- difficulty breathing.
Overdose
Exceeding the daily dose by 5-10 times often causes nausea, vomiting and headaches. In this case, it is enough to stop taking the drug and rinse the stomach with plenty of warm water. After this, you need to take activated carbon or other intestinal sorbents.
Exceeding the dose by 10 or more times can cause:
- Impaired consciousness.
- Overexcitement.
- Cramps.
- DIC syndrome.
- Hypoglycemia.
- Shock.
- Multiple organ failure.
When taken simultaneously with alcohol, high doses of the drug can lead to death. If a severe overdose is suspected, immediate hospitalization is indicated. In a hospital setting, gastric lavage and general therapeutic procedures are performed, including hemodialysis.
Lipoic acid, instructions for use (Method and dosage)
300-600 mg of thioctic acid is administered intravenously daily, which corresponds to 1-2 ampoules of 10 ml and 1 ampoule of 20 ml of concentration 3%. The duration of therapy is 2-4 weeks, after which treatment is continued in tablet form at a daily dose of 300-600 mg.
Instructions for use of Lipoic acid tablets
Orally 30 minutes before meals. Tablets should not be broken or chewed. Daily dose: 1 tablet 1 time per day (300-600 mg). The therapeutic effect is achieved by taking 600 mg per day. In the future, the dose can be halved.
For diseases of the liver system, tablets are prescribed: up to 4 times a day, 50 mg for a month. A repeat course can be carried out after 1 month.
Treatment of diabetic neuropathy and alcoholic polyneuropathy: begin with intravenous injections with the transition to a tablet form of 600 mg per day.
Analogs
- "Espa-Lipon"
Application: on average, the drug is taken one pill per day. Differences and features:
Release form: film-coated and plain-coated tablets of 200 and 600 mg, concentrate for the preparation of intravenous solution. Price: ampoules No. 10, 300 mg – 885 rub.
- "Tiogamma"
Application: one pill is taken 1 time per day.
Differences and features: Dosage of the product is 600 mg. The duration of treatment is 30-60 days. The course is repeated two to three times a year. In combination with alcohol, death is possible. Price: package No. 30, 600 mg – 970 rub.
- "Berlition 300"
Application: two pills are taken 1 r. daily.
Differences and features: The drug contains more excipients and dyes, which is important for people suffering from allergies. There is only one release form - tablets. Price: ampoules No. 5, 300 mg – 509 rub.
Interaction
The medication can enhance the effects of glucocorticosteroid drugs. Suppression of the activity of Cisplatin . The drug enhances the effect of hypoglycemic agents (oral forms) and insulin.
It is not recommended to use with medications that contain metal ions (calcium, magnesium, iron) due to the ability of Lipoic acid to bind metals.
If there is an urgent need to use drugs, it is recommended to maintain a certain time interval (at least 2 hours). Ethanol metabolites and ethanol itself weaken the effect of thioctic acid.
Food Sources of Vitamin N
When asked what contains the most lipoic acid, jokers answer: in pharmacy vitamins. This is actually true. But you can’t eat the “feed” of the pharmaceutical industry all your life. After all, Mother Nature also takes care of her children and has hidden some reserves of vitamin N in delicacies of animal and plant origin. So, it’s time to find out which foods contain thioctic acid, especially since a healthy body is able to provide itself with the daily requirement of the substance from food.
Leading foods containing the most vitamin N:
- offal (heart, kidneys, liver);
- red meat (beef, lamb, turkey);
- dairy products (milk, sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, kefir);
- eggs;
- yeast;
- mushrooms;
- leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage);
- legumes;
- rice;
- Wheat groats;
- fruits.
special instructions
The main metabolic pathways are oxidation and conjugation (source - Wikipedia).
Benefits and harms
Lipoic acid is a natural antioxidant and vitamin. It helps normalize and accelerate metabolic processes, stimulates the pancreas, removes toxins from the body, lowers blood sugar levels, improves visual perception, has a beneficial effect on heart function, lowers cholesterol , and helps normalize blood pressure.
With the use of Lipoic acid, there is a decrease in the severity of negative reactions that occur after chemotherapy in cancer patients.
The drug has a beneficial effect on the condition of nerve endings damaged as a result of diabetes. Rarely do negative reactions occur during the use of the medication.
ATX
According to the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical classification, the product has code [A05BA] and belongs to biologically active additives and hepatoprotective drugs.
A wide range of possibilities makes the drug Lipoic acid increasingly in demand.
Similar drugs
Level 4 ATX code matches:
Verona
Phibs
Gastrikumel
Fitogastrol
Thyroidea Compositum
Berlition
Thiolepta
Gastric collection
Espa-Lipon
Brewer's yeast
Rosehip syrup
Omez DSR
Octolipen
Thioctacid
Thiogamma
Figurin
Preparations containing thioctic acid:
- Berlition 300;
- Thiolepta;
- Octolipen;
- Thioctacid 600;
- Tiogram;
- Alpha Lipon;
- Espa-Lipon.
Description and composition
The active element of the drug is alpha lipoic acid. Each tablet of the drug may contain 12 mg or 25 mg of the substance.
Additional components:
- stearic acid;
- starch;
- talc;
- glucose;
- calcium stearate;
- sugar.
The shell includes:
- titanium dioxide;
- yellow dye;
- talc;
- Vaseline oil;
- Aerosil;
- magnesium carbonate basic;
- wax;
- sugar;
- polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Lipoic acid reviews
The medication is well tolerated and has proven itself as an effective drug for intoxication, poisoning, and diseases of the liver system.
Reviews of Lipoic acid for weight loss
There are a variety of reviews. Some felt absolutely no effect, maintaining their weight despite regularly taking the medication. Some users note that taking Lipoic acid in combination with intense cardio exercise and following a certain diet can significantly reduce weight without harming their health.
Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus note that the medication can reduce the severity of negative reactions of hypoglycemic drugs (in some cases it was possible to reduce the dosage) and improve overall well-being.
Conditions for dispensing from a pharmacy
You do not need a doctor's prescription to purchase tablets from a pharmacy.
Price
The average price of 1 package of the product in pharmacies of the Russian Federation has been established, depending on the dosage, at the level of 180-400 rubles.
Lipoic acid price, where to buy
Most often, the drug is purchased for weight loss. You can buy Lipoic acid in a pharmacy in Russia for 50 rubles.
The price of Lipoic acid in Ukraine is 20 UAH, in Minsk 200 thousand Belarusian rubles.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Alpha lipoic acid tab.
250 mg No. 30 (bud) Arum Inc. JP 390 rub. order - Micellated alpha-lipoic acid MicelVit 1350 mg 30 pcs. KorolevPharm LLC
418 RUR order
- Micellated alpha-lipoic acid MicelVit 1350 mg 60 pcs. KorolevPharm LLC
680 rub. order
- Alpha lipoic acid 100 mg Evalar ANTI-AGE capsules 1.1 g 30 pcs. Evalar JSC
RUR 379 order
- Coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid micellized MycelVit capsules 1080 mg 60 pcs. RealCaps AO
RUB 2,113 order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Turboslim Alpha-lipoic acid and L-carnitine tablets 0.55g No. 60Evalar JSC
RUB 855 order
- Lipoic acid Vitamir tablets No. 30 Square C
60 rub. order
- Solgar (Alpha-lipoic acid 60 mg caps. 500 mg No. 30)Solgar Vitamin and Herb
RUR 758 order
- Turboslim Alpha-lipoic acid and L-carnitine tablets No. 20Evalar JSC
340 rub. order
- Alpha lipoic acid Anti-age capsules 100 mg No. 30Evalar JSC
RUR 444 order
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Pharmacy24
- Lipoic acid forte DD No. 50 tablets TOV FK Biostimulator, Ukraine/TOV NVP Biostimulator, Ukraine
104 UAH.order - Alpha lipoic acid 60 mg No. 30 capsules Solgar Vitamin End Herb, USA
242 UAH order
PaniPharmacy
- Solgar Alpha-lipoic acid capsules 60 mg No. 30, Solgar Vitamin and Herb
250 UAH order
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