Lipoic Acid Supplementation Research Articles

The effect of alpha lipoic acid supplementation on sperm functions in idiopathic asthenozoospermic patients: a case-controlled study

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural short chain fatty acid containing sulfhydryl groups generated from octanoic acid and cysteine in the mitochondria, and is found in both the aqueous and lipid phases. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of ALA supplementation in primary infertile males complaining of idiopathic asthenozoospermia. Eighty patients were randomly allocated to treatment group A (n = 40) and control group B (n = 40) groups, receiving daily doses of 600 mg (divided into two daily doses of 300 mg each) of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) or an identical placebo for 90 days. Semen analysis, anthropometric and total antioxidant capacity were analysed and compared before and after treatment. Daily supplementation with ALA improved total motility and progressive motility of the spermatozoa. In the ALA-treated group, sperm motility and progressive motility increased significantly, similarly, the mean percentage of sperm vitality demonstrated a significant increase among the ALA treated group (p < 0.001). Analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in semen volume and sperm concentration in the ALA supplemented group, while abnormal morphology decreased significantly (p < 0.001). ALA supplementation significantly improved sperm parameters and functional tests in group A patients. ALA supplementation in patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermic thus enhanced sperm quality and viability, which could therefore be considered as an adjunct therapy pending further verification of its association and mechanisms involved.

Protective effect of interval exercise training with different intensity and alpha-lipoic acid supplement on Nav1.3 protein in soleus muscle of diabetic rats

Introduction: Diabetes is a common metabolic disease, which leads to diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuron damage result in Nav1.3 elevations. Exercise training has beneficial role in diabetes management and peripheral neuropathy. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful biological antioxidant. However, the role of exercise training and ALA on Nav1.3 are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of training with different intensity and Alpha lipoic acid supplement on soleus muscle Nav1.3 protein in rats with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: healthy control, diabetic, complementary diabetic, intensive exercise diabetic, moderate exercise diabetic, intensive exercise + supplemental diabetic, moderate exercise + complementary diabetic. Methods: In this experimental study, 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: healthy control, diabetic (D), complementary (alpha lipoic acid) diabetic (ALA), diabetic high intensity training (HIT), diabetic moderate intensity training (MIT), diabetes HIT+ALA (ALA + HIT), diabetic MIT + ALA (ALA + MIT). Rats were diabetic by intra-peritoneal injection of STZ. The HIT and MIT protocols were performed five days a week for six weeks. HIIT included 10 bouts of four minutes (running at 85–90% of maximum speed) and MIT 13 bouts of four minutes (running at 65–70% of maximum speed). ALA was administered orally 20 mg/kg once a day by gavage. Nav1.3 protein levels were measured by immunohistochemistry method. Statistical operations were performed with SPSS version 16 software. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey were used to analyze the data. Results: The level of Nav1.3 increased significantly in diabetic group compared to the control (p≤0.0001). Moreover, HIT (p=0.0015), MIT p=0.0056), ALA+HIT (p≤0.0001) and ALA+MIT (p≤0.0001) decreased significantly Nav1.3 compared to the diabetic group. Conclusion: HIT and MIT can reduce the expression of NaV1.3 in soleus muscle in diabetic rats. ALA combined with exercise training can be more effective to reduce diabetic neuropathy.

Lipoic acid supplementation associated with neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1)–associated membranous nephropathy

Lipoic acid (alpha lipoic acid, thioctic acid) is a popular over-the-counter antioxidant and insulin-mimetic supplement under investigation in a variety of conditions including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and schizophrenia. Unfortunately, high-grade proteinuria was an unexpected adverse event specific to the treatment arm of our clinical trial investigating lipoic acid supplementation in patients with multiple sclerosis. This observation led to detection of similar patients in our nephrology practice. Here, we describe four biopsy-proven cases of neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL1)-associated membranous nephropathy following lipoic acid supplementation and a fifth suspected case. Discontinuation of lipoic acid and supportive therapy resulted in remission.

FRI-1 Is an Anti-Cancer Isoquinolinequinone That Inhibits the Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Blocks Metabolic Shifts by Redox Disruption in Breast Cancer Cells.

Since breast cancer (BC) cells are dependent on mitochondrial bioenergetics for promoting proliferation, survival, and metastasis, mitochondria highlight as an important target for anticancer drug discovery. FRI-1, methyl 1, 3-dimethyl-5, 8-dioxo-5, 8-dihydro-4-isoquinolinecarboxylate, was previously described as a selective cytotoxic compound on cancer cell lines, however, details on the mechanism of action remain unknown. In this work, we describe that FRI-1 inhibits mitochondrial bioenergetics, producing apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 BC cell lines. FRI-1 decreases the maximal oxygen consumption rate (OCR), Δψm, NADH, and ATP levels, with a notable increase of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, promoting AMPK activation with pro-survival effects. Moreover, FRI-1 inhibits the metabolic remodeling to glycolysis induced by oligomycin. In isolated tumoral mitochondria, FRI-1 increases Complex I and III-dependent OCR state 2, and this is sensitive to rotenone and antimycin A inhibitor additions, suggesting a redox cycling event. Remarkably, α-ketoglutarate and lipoic acid supplementation reversed and promoted, respectively, the FRI-1-induced apoptosis, suggesting that mitochondrial redox disruption affects 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH) activity, and this is involved in their anticancer mechanism. Consistent with this, the combination of FRI-1 and CPI-613, a dual inhibitor of redox-sensible tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes PDH and OGDH, produced extensive BC cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that FRI-1 exhibits anticancer effects through inhibition of mitochondrial bioenergetics by redox disruption in BC cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation Improves Ovarian Tissue Vitrification Outcome: An Alternative to Preserve the Ovarian Function of Morada Nova Ewe.

This study evaluated the effect of addingalpha lipoic acid (ALA) to the vitrification solution of sheep ovarian tissue on7 days of in vitro culture or 15 days of xenotransplantion. ALA was used at two different concentrations (100 μM: ALA100 and 150 μM: ALA150). Ovarian tissue was evaluated by classical histology (follicular morphology, development, and stromal cell density); immunohistochemistry for forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); Ki67 (cell proliferation); cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31); and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in ovarian tissue, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels in the culture medium, were assessed. Similar percentage of morphologically normal follicles was found in the vitrified ovarian tissue in the presence of ALA100 or ALA150 after in vitro culture or xenotransplantation. Follicular development from all treatments was higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. Moreover, an activation of primordial follicles was observed by FOXO3a. Stromal cell density and immunostaining for Ki67 and CD31 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in ALA150 vitrified tissue. No difference (P > 0.05) was found in α-SMA between ALA concentrations after in vitro culture or xenograft. ROS levels in the ovarian tissue weresimilar (P > 0.05) in all treatments, as well as MDA and nitrite levels after 7 days of culture. We concluded that the addition of ALA 150 is able to better preserve the stromal cell density favoring granulosa cell proliferation and neovascularization.

The negative effects of dietary cadmium on antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestine morphology of Macrobrachium nipponense and the alleviation effects of lipoic acid

The present experiment containing two dietary cadmium (Cd) levels (0 and 5 mg/kg) and two lipoic acid (LA) levels (0 and 600 mg/kg) was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary Cd on the growth, antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestine morphology of Macrobrachium nipponense and the alleviation effects of LA. We found that dietary Cd and LA had no significant effects on the growth of prawns. Dietary Cd significantly decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, resulting in a higher MDA level in the hepatopancreas. LA was added to diets that increased these antioxidant enzyme activities. Similarly, dietary Cd decreased the activity of lysozyme and content of NO in the serum, whereas dietary LA ameliorated these negative effects. Dietary Cd significantly increased the activities of GOT and GPT in the serum, and LA supplementation decreased the activities of these enzymes in the serum. The intestinal villus of prawns fed the diet containing Cd was partly detached from the basement membrane, and LA protected the integrity of the gut. In conclusion, dietary Cd depressed the antioxidant capacity and immunity, destroyed the intestine morphology of prawns and LA supplementation alleviated these negative effects caused by Cd.

Effects of lipoic acid supplementation on age- and iron-induced memory impairment, mitochondrial DNA damage and antioxidant responses.

To investigate the effects of lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during adulthood combined with supplementation later in life or LA administration only at old age on age-induced cognitive dysfunction, mitochondrial DNA deletions, caspase 3 and antioxidant response enzymes expression in iron-treated rats. Male rats were submitted to iron treatment (30mg/kgbody wt of Carbonyl iron) from 12 to 14th post-natal days. Iron-treated rats received LA supplementation (50mg/kg, daily) in adulthood and old age or at old age only for 21days. Memory, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) complex I deletions, caspase 3 mRNA expression and antioxidant response enzymes mRNA expression were analyzed in the hippocampus. LA administration in adulthood combined with treatment later in life was able to reverse age-induced effects on object recognition and inhibitory avoidance memory, as well as on mtDNA deletions, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) expression, and antioxidant enzymes disruption induced by iron in aged rats. LA treatment only at old age reversed iron-induced effects to a lesser extent when compared to the combined treatment. The present findings support the view that LA supplementation may be considered as an adjuvant against mitochondrial damage and cognitive decline related to aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

Supplementation of Lipoic Acid, Zinc and Clopidogrel Reduces Mortality Rate and Incidence of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Experimental Myocardial Infarction.

Despite the significant advances in management of coronary heart diseases, myocardial infarction (MI) is still associated with a high mortality rate. The present study was planned to investigate the possible protective effects of the anti-oxidants lipoic acid and zinc sulfate as well as the anti-platelet clopidogrel on cardiac dysfunction in experimental isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI, aiming at achieving useful means for protection and therapy against MI. Wistar rats of both sexes were allocated into five groups: control, untreated MI and MI pre-treated with lipoic acid, zinc, or clopidogrel. All rats were subjected to ECG recording and measurement of plasma levels of troponin I, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) unit, triglycerides and total cholesterol. The hearts were isolated and studied on Langendorff preparation for assessment of intrinsic cardiac activities. The results revealed that the percent mortality was markedly reduced upon pre-treatment and the total arrhythmia was also decreased except for the zinc pre-treated rats. The ST-segment elevation was significantly reduced and the plasma levels of CK-MB were only decreased in lipoic acid and clopidogrel pre-treated rats with variable hypolipidemic effect. Hearts of clopidogrel pre-treated rats showed augmented inotropic activity both basal and in response to β-adrenergic stimulation. While zinc pre-treated hearts revealed improved rate of contraction and increased myocardial flow rate. Overall, these results indicate that lipoic acid, zinc and clopidogrel were variably effective in modifying the ISO-induced MI insults and offered partial protection against experimental myocardial damage.

In vitro Alpha Lipoic Acid supplementation in freeze-dried human sperm: the impact on DNA fragmentation index

Freeze-drying technique is an alternative method on sperm preservation. However, this process can results in DNA damage. Adding antioxidants before freezing can reduce the detrimental effects of ROS on spermatozoa. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is one of the potent antioxidant that can be used to protect the sperm DNA. This study was aimed to determine the effect of ALA supplementation before freeze-drying on the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of human spermatozoa. Nine semen samples were collected and evaluated for DFI (O1) then divided into 3 groups; freeze-drying without ALA (O2), freeze-drying with ALA 1,25 mg (O3) and freeze-drying with ALA 2,5 mg (O4).All three groups were stored at 4oC for 1 week. Sperm DFI were evaluated before and after freeze-drying. The result of this study showed a significant increase in sperm DFI in all three groups after freeze-drying (p&lt;0,05) when compared to DFI before freeze-drying (14,67 ±3,295). However there was no significant difference between O2 (26,90 ±9,180) and O4 (29,29 ±5,524) group where the supplementation of 2,5 mg ALA did not have significant effect on protecting the DNA of freeze-dried human spermatozoa. The highest DFI was in the O3 group (44,64 ±11,717). Therefore, ALA supplementation before freeze-drying does not have a significant effect on protecting the DNA of freeze-dried human spermatozoa.

Genetic dissection of the mitochondrial lipoylation pathway in yeast.

BackgroundLipoylation of 2-ketoacid dehydrogenases is essential for mitochondrial function in eukaryotes. While the basic principles of the lipoylation processes have been worked out, we still lack a thorough understanding of the details of this important post-translational modification pathway. Here we used yeast as a model organism to characterize substrate usage by the highly conserved eukaryotic octanoyl/lipoyl transferases in vivo and queried how amenable the lipoylation system is to supplementation with exogenous substrate.ResultsWe show that the requirement for mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis to provide substrates for lipoylation of the 2-ketoacid dehydrogenases can be bypassed by supplying the cells with free lipoic acid (LA) or octanoic acid (C8) and a mitochondrially targeted fatty acyl/lipoyl activating enzyme. We also provide evidence that the S. cerevisiae lipoyl transferase Lip3, in addition to transferring LA from the glycine cleavage system H protein to the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGD) E2 subunits, can transfer this cofactor from the PDH complex to the KGD complex. In support of yeast as a model system for human metabolism, we demonstrate that the human octanoyl/lipoyl transferases can substitute for their counterparts in yeast to support respiratory growth and protein lipoylation. Like the wild-type yeast enzyme, the human lipoyl transferase LIPT1 responds to LA supplementation in the presence of the activating enzyme LplA.ConclusionsIn the yeast model system, the eukaryotic lipoylation pathway can use free LA and C8 as substrates when fatty/lipoic acid activating enzymes are targeted to mitochondria. Lip3 LA transferase has a wider substrate specificity than previously recognized. We show that these features of the lipoylation mechanism in yeast are conserved in mammalian mitochondria. Our findings have important implications for the development of effective therapies for the treatment of LA or mtFAS deficiency-related disorders.

The Role of Alpha-lipoic Acid Supplementation in the Prevention of Diabetes Complications: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Trials.

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a substantial antioxidant in the prevention of diabetes and diabetes complications. It can regenerate other antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10 and glutathione and is often known as a universal antioxidant. Antioxidants play a role in diabetes treatment due to hyperglycemia-induced stimulation of the polyol pathway and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Clinical trials examining alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy and erectile dysfunction display positive results, particularly in pain amelioration in neuropathy, asymmetric dimethylarginine reductions in nephropathy and improved oscillatory potential and contrast sensitivity in retinopathy. In diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), ALA offers protection through inhibition of NF-kB activation, reduction of fas-ligand and decrease in matrix metalloproteinase-2. This comprehensive review summarises and provides an understanding of the importance of alpha- lipoic acid supplementation to prevent diabetes complications.

Efficacy of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation In Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

A B S T R A C TBackground. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a side effect ofseveral chemotherapy drugs and a significant cause of chronic pain in cancerpatients, which affects patients' long-term quality of life. The neurotoxicchemotherapy agents most reported to cause neuropathic pains are platinum andtaxane. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of alpha-lipoic acidsupplementation in chemotherapy patients. Methods. This study used arandomized, double-blind clinical trial in the oncology haematology clinic in theDepartment of Internal Medicine at Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital Palembangfrom November 2018 to July 2019. Samples were taken from patients who met theinclusion criteria and signed informed consent forms to join the study. This studyused SPSS version 22.0 for Windows to analyze the data.Results. This researchstudied 30 subjects who were divided into alpha lipoic acid groups and placebogroups with 15 samples each. The alpha-lipoic acid group showed a significantdecline in the Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS) after treatment (p = 0.000)compared to the placebo group (p = 0.164). Conclusions. Treatment with a 600 mgsingle dose each day of alpha-lipoic acid for 12 weeks effectively improved patientscondition significantly.

Defining Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to investigate lipoic acid metabolism

Lipoic acid (LA) is a sulfur-containing cofactor that covalently binds to a variety of cognate enzymes that are essential for redox reactions in all three domains of life. Inherited mutations in the enzymes that make LA, namely lipoyl synthase, octanoyltransferase, and amidotransferase, result in devastating human metabolic disorders. Unfortunately, because many aspects of this essential pathway are still obscure, available treatments only serve to alleviate symptoms. We envisioned that the development of an organismal model system might provide new opportunities to interrogate LA biochemistry, biology, and physiology. Here we report our investigations on three Caenorhabditis elegans orthologous proteins involved in this post-translational modification. We established that M01F1.3 is a lipoyl synthase, ZC410.7 an octanoyltransferase, and C45G3.3 an amidotransferase. Worms subjected to RNAi against M01F1.3 and ZC410.7 manifest larval arrest in the second generation. The arrest was not rescued by LA supplementation, indicating that endogenous synthesis of LA is essential for C. elegans development. Expression of the enzymes M01F1.3, ZC410.7, and C45G3.3 completely rescue bacterial or yeast mutants affected in different steps of the lipoylation pathway, indicating functional overlap. Thus, we demonstrate that, similarly to humans, C. elegans is able to synthesize LA de novo via a lipoyl-relay pathway, and suggest that this nematode could be a valuable model to dissect the role of protein mislipoylation and to develop new therapies.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation Prevents the Age-Related Decrease in Nuclear Reduced Glutathione Levels in Kidneys from Old Female Lewis Rats

Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation Prevents the Age-Related Decrease in Nuclear Reduced Glutathione Levels in Kidneys from Old Female Lewis Rats

The Protective Role of Prenatal Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation against Pancreatic Oxidative Damage in Offspring of Valproic Acid-Treated Rats: Histological and Molecular Study.

Background: Sodium valproate (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) licensed for epilepsy and used during pregnancy in various indications. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural compound inducing endogenous antioxidant production. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal administration of VPA on the pancreas of rat offspring and assess the potential protective role of ALA co-administration during pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-eight pregnant female albino rats were divided into four groups: group I (negative control), group II (positive control, ALA treated), group III (VPA-treated), and group IV (VPA-ALA-treated). The pancreases of the rat offspring were removed at the fourth week postpartum and prepared for histological, immune-histochemical, morphometric, molecular, and oxidative stress marker studies. Results: In group III, there were pyknotic nuclei, vacuolated cytoplasm with ballooning of acinar, α, and β cells of the pancreas. Ultrastructural degeneration of cytoplasmic organelles was detected. Additionally, there was a significant increase in oxidative stress, a decrease in insulin-positive cell percentage, and an increase in glucagon positive cells in comparison to control groups. Moreover, VPA increased the gene expression of an apoptotic marker, caspase-3, with a decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcriptional factor. Conversely, ALA improved oxidative stress and apoptosis in group VI, and a consequent improvement of the histological and ultrastructure picture was detected. Conclusion: ALA co-administration with VPA significantly improved the oxidative stress condition, histological and morphometric picture of the pancreas, and restored normal expression of related genes, including Nrf2, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Administration of α-lipoic acid has a protective effect against VPA-induced pancreatic oxidative damage via its cytoprotective antioxidant effect.

Effects of inositol and alpha lipoic acid combination for polycystic ovary syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an intricate and multifactorial disease, has characteristics of diverse clinical, metabolic and endocrine disorder. It represents a primary cause of infertility in reproductive women, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. Several small studies have indicated that inositol and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation can ameliorate the outcomes in terms of menstrual cyclicity, ovulation and hyperinsulinemia in PCOS women. However, there is a lack of sufficient evidence to affirm this practice. Consequently, we aim to objectively review and estimate the efficacy and safety of inositol plus ALA in adult women suffering from PCOS.Methods and analysis:We will retrieve PubMed, EMBASE, The Web of Science, The Cochrane Library of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials.gov, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database), Wan-Fang database with no specific limitations on language. Simultaneously we will manually retrieve reference lists and grey literature to acquire potential eligibility. We will restrict our search to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of inositol in combination with ALA for PCOS. Researchers will separately identify studies, extract data and evaluate the quality of studies. We will conduct risk of bias estimates, data synthesis and analysis using Review Manager 5.3 software.Results and conclusion:The study will comprehensively determine the effectiveness and safety of inositol conjunct with ALA therapy for PCOS. Meanwhile we intend to disseminate the final findings in a peer-reviewed journal to help patients, clinicians and health policymakers select treatment strategy of PCOS by providing high-quality evidence.

Supplementation of freezing media with alpha lipoic acid preserves the structural and functional characteristics of sperm against cryodamage in infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation during semen cryopreservation on the sperm quality, chromatin integrity, oxidative stress, and expression level of BAX, BCL2, HSP70 and iNOS genes in semen samples obtained from infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia. MethodsTwenty freshly ejaculated semen samples were cryopreserved with sperm freezing medium supplemented with 0.00, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mmol/mL of ALA. The samples were analyzed according to the WHO guidelines before and after freezing. Sperm ROS production level, DNA fragmentation and cryo-capacitation were assessed using flow cytometry, TUNEL assay and chlortetracycline (CTC) test, respectively. Expression level of stress protein (HSP70), pro-apoptotic Bax, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and iNOS genes was assessed by real-time PCR assay. ResultsThe effective concentrations of ALA (0.02 and 0.5 mM) significantly improved the motility, viability and morphology of the frozen-thawed sperms compared to the control group treated with 0.00 mM of ALA. During cryopreservation, treatment of semen with 0.02 mM of ALA, as the optimal concentration, significantly decreased DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress level (P < 0.05), protected the acrosome integrity, and led to insignificant reduction in BAX gene expression level and significant increase in expression level of BCL2, HSP70, and iNOS genes compared with control group. ConclusionOur findings revealed that the adding ALA to semen samples obtained from infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia plays a significant protective role against cryodamage by preserving the sperm functional parameters.

Performance Enhancing And Pro Regenerative Effects Of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation After Acute And Chronic Resistance And Endurance Training.

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress is an important key player in the initiation of training induced adaptations but also a risk factor with respect to over training and lack of regeneration. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been described to be a powerful antioxidant. Therefore it was the aim of this study to investigate the effects of acute and chronic ALA supplementation on the regeneration and performance of athletes after intensive exercise. METHODS: In this double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial in cross-over design, 17 male resistance and endurance-experienced athletes successfully participated. The subjects were divided into two groups (ALA and Placebo) and underwent a standardized acute (3sets back squats of 12 reps each and 3 sets of low jumps with 15 reps each) and chronic training protocol (6 days of intensive resistance and endurance training). Between the acute and chronic training experiments was a 4-week break. At certain time points before and after exercise (T0, T1 (+24h) and T2 (+7d)) blood samples were taken and the concentrations of muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin), inflammation (interleukin 6 and 10) and oxidative stress (ox LDL) markers were investigated. In addition, the maximum performance in the back squat was measured at all timepoints. RESULTS: In the 6 day chronic training intervention a clear inhibition of muscle damage and inflammation could be observed in individuals under chronic supplementation of ALA compared to the control group. Whereas performance in the back squat was significantly reduced after 6 day of chronic training in the placebo group no significant loss of performance could be detected in the ALA group. In contrast after an acute training a single application of ALA did not result in significant differences between the placebo and ALA groups with respect to all before mentioned markers and back squat performance CONCLUSIONS: Based on these data we conclude that that ALA supplementation has only limited effects if given acute and directly after exercise but results in remarkably and significant pro-regenerative and performance enhancing effects after chronic supplementation. Mechanistically these effects seem to be mediated via a modulation of the immune response and less by antioxidative effects, which needs to be investigated in more detail in future investigations.

Influence of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Urinary Bladder Morphology of Diabetic Rats

Influence of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Urinary Bladder Morphology of Diabetic Rats

Supplementation of alpha lipoic acid on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral availability and lipid peroxidation level in broiler chicken fed with animal fat

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of alpha lipoic acid supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral availability and lipid peroxidation level in broilers fed diet with animal fat. The trial was conducted using eighty day-old VenCobb commercial broiler chicks which were randomly assigned into two dietary treatment groups with four replicates of ten chicks each. The birds in both the control (T1) and treatment group (T2) were fed with diet containing 5% animal fat, while T2 was supplemented with 100 mg of Alpha lipoic acid. The birds were fed with standard broiler starter ration up to 4 weeks of age and finisher ration up to 6 weeks of age as per BIS (1992) specifications. Alpha lipoic acid supplementation did not have any effect on body weight (g), Feed consumption (g) and feed conversion ratio (%), availability of nutrients and minerals, however, decreased the serum MDA concentration, which is one of the most common indicators of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, the present study revealed that supplementation of alpha lipoic acid has no effect on growth performance, nutrient and mineral utilisation, but reduces the lipid peroxidation level, thereby improves the quality of meat.