Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a relatively newly discovered triple antioxidant with amazing capabilities in neutralizing free radical damage in the body. It also stands guard as well in reducing pain in diabetic patients. As a highly regarded health and wellness component it has the ability to quickly reduce sensory symptoms and pain that is linked to diabetic neuropathy. The pain in these people may very well be treatable with Vitamin D but it is believed that Alpha Lipoic Acid aids in this process as a facilitator or synergist. The results are a reduction in pain, stress, and muscle tension. Other symptoms such as burning and numbness are curbed as well by nutritional supplements such as ALA. In one human clinical trial conducted for pain reduction properties of ALA participants were given ALA intravenously (200 mg) daily for 21 days. The majority of the participants showed significant pain reduction.

Another condition that can be positively affected with the supplementation of Alpha Lipoic Acid is asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory response that results in shortness of breath that leads to coughing and wheezing. This fear factor in this situation alone is enough to exacerbate the problem with the panic causing one to hyperventilate.

Alpha Lipoic Acid has been, in a number of studies, shown to reduce oxidative stress that occurs from metabolic functions and leads to inflammation. It was reported in Time Magazine in February of 2005 that inflammation is the secret killer that leads to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, arthritis and other diseases. The properties of ALA that combat asthma are the same properties that may be effective in the aforementioned conditions. Vitamin C and E seem to work better when used in conjuction with ALA in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.

One of the contraindications of ALA is a possible lowering of blood glucose levels which lead to hypoglycemia. Blood glucose levels in diabetics who use diabetic medication should be closely monitered due to this possibility and, if necessary, adjust their medication. The upside thought here is, "wouldn't one rather employ a nutritional supplement such as Alpha Lipoic Acid in the treatment of diabetes as opposed to a possibly toxic pharmaceutical solution?".

In terms of aging and longevity Alpha Lipoic Acid does not seem to directly impact human cells but it does trigger the body's own regenerative mechanism whereby the rebuilding and repairing of cells is initiated. One of those particular rebuild and repair compounds produced in the body is glutathione. ALA supplementation seems to have a positive impact on glutathione production. This catalytic biochemical property alone can have an enormous impact on preventing and/or reversing disease. ALA has one two punch with diabetics as the treatments that diabetics employ may lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This particular disease, which is caused by diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity, can be missed unless by a liver enzyme test detects it. The liver is the lifeblood of our youth. Aging is accelerated by the buildup of toxins in the body and when the liver is functioning at a suboptimal level the results are quite noticeable over time. More energy is required to maintain the body's life sustaining functions when liver function is reduced. A lack of energy at the cell level results in a deficit of energy for the systems that we notice first when we begin to age. Memory capacity and cognitive speed, connective tissue repair, skin repair, and vision to name a few... are all systems that begin to suffer as available energy is directed to life sustaining organs such as lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart.

As you can see the benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid are far reaching and exciting in the age of discovery of natural solutions to disease and aging.