Re: anyone tried ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) ?

July 1, 2006

,

Not exactly did I take ALA (ex. flaxseed oil), but I took refined fish oil (a

DIRECT source of DHA and EPA) during my pregnancy, during breastfeeding, I

continued to use it.

(DHA is important to the developing foetus and child for its vision and brain).

ALA (alphalinoleic acid) is the precursor of DHA and EPA (transformed in the

body), but our bodies are not always capable of doing this transformation

effectively.

I've heard that pregnancy could worsen a CMT condition, but in my case, the

opposite was true, I had less problems : much less cramps in my legs, I guess

this could be due to the fish oil I took for an other reason.

So I continued taking it after breastfeeding for 6 months, too.

BTW my daughter was born with PGD, a special sort of IVF where the embryo's are

screened for CMT to exclude its existance (50% chance in my case) and is a very

happy, healthy two-year-old now, here in Belgium this procedure is now almost

completely refunded, I don't know in other countries.

More positive effects of fish oil would be it being good for cholesterol, heart,

mood, skin etc.

If any-one has more information about essential fatty acids and neuropathies

like CMT, don't hesitate to post them here, I am looking forward to it.

Kind regards,

Lea

July 1, 2006

and Kathy:

I have tried ALA but didn't see any improvement. I think ALA may help

more with metabolic neuropathies (diabetes) than genetic (CMT) because

the etiology of a metabolic neuropathy is chemical and may be helped

through a chemical intervention.

As for falling down, I fall quite a bit because I am up and around

quite a bit. Granted I look like a frog on meth when I try to get up,

but getting up is the issue.

With this disease, being able to laugh at the weird predicaments I get

into is one way I stay (relatively) sane.

-- Larry

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