Re: Comments on Dr. Sahelian's ALA newsletter?

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for posting this. I'm including the link so that we can find

it again. No doubt in my mind that the high infrequent ALA

redistributed metals, and that the redistributed metals caused the

problem.

http://www.raysahelian.com/newsletter2006.html

SUPPLEMENT RESEARCH UPDATE -

by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Vol. 3, Issue 11 -- June 1, 2006

>

> I received the following today via an e-mail newsletter from " Fw:

> SUPPLEMENT RESEARCH UPDATE - Ray Sahelian, M.D. " Any Comments?? This

> article is regarding a statement by a reader, and DR. Sahelian's

> response. V

>

> " E-mail received recently - Another reason to be cautious using high

> doses of supplements

>

> I found your lipoic acid web page while surfing the internet and read

> that you recommend no more than 10 to 50mg/day of alpha-lipoic acid.

> At the advice of a consultant at a vitamin store, I started taking

> 900 mg (300mg 3 times a day) of alpha-lipoic acid on May 2nd. On May

> 18th I suffered atrial fibrillation/flutter which required

> hospitalization to get my heart in normal sinus rhythm. I've got a

> trans-esophageal echogram and an ablation scheduled. I am post-

> menopausal, healthy, non-smoking, active, normal weight. I had open

> heart/bypass surgery in 2001 for a blocked artery, but was discharged

> from cardiac follow-up. Apparently this has no bearing on the current

> incident. This is just for your information, in that I believe the

> high doses of alpha-lipoic acid had everything to do with this

> incident.

>

> My comments: Although this is just one anecdote, it is quite

> possible that these high doses of alpha lipoic acid caused the

> irregular heart rhythm. I am sometimes criticized by some people in

> the vitamin industry for making my dosage recommendations on

> supplements too low. But, I prefer people take too low a dose than

> experience a severe side effect such as a cardiac abnormality. People

> don't realize that herbs and supplements, if misused, can cause harm.

> As a general guideline, take at least a day off each week from your

> supplements, and a 3 day break each month.

> I personally get insomnia if I take more than 50 mg of lipoic

> acid. "

>