Re: Herbel Pill -- Alpha Lipoic Acid

[Guest guest]

GREETINGS --

I use Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) -- primarily to help with neuropathy

that I got from high blood sugars before switching insulins. I take a

time release version (no prescription necessary) -- one 300 mg tablet

before each meal -- and it has helped me a great deal. The folowing

write up on ALA is extracted from " Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes

Solution " -- a book written by a diabetes doctor who has been a Type

I diabetic for almost 60 years. I refer to his book often when

seeking to solve problems.

wambo1941

PS I take 3 mg calsule of Biotin with each ALA tablet to help the ALA

do its work.

There are some substances sold in the United States as dietary

supplements that are effective for helping to control blood sugars.

Many studies in Germany have demonstrated this effect from alpha

lipoic acid, or ALA. A 2001 study showed it to work in muscle and fat

cells by mobilizing and activating glucose transporters—in other

words, it works like insulin, or is an insulin mimetic. German

studies have also shown that its effectiveness in mimicking the

effects of insulin is greatly enhanced when used with equivalent

amounts of evening primrose oil, another dietary supplement. ALA and

evening primrose oil are no substitute, however, for injected insulin—

they are at best a fraction as potent. Still, their combined

effectiveness is significant.

Additionally, ALA is perhaps the most potent antioxidant on the

market and has certain cardiovascular benefits similar to those

claimed for vitamin E, but more notable. Many of the cardiologists

who were taking vitamin E ten years ago are now taking ALA. I've been

taking it myself for about four years. When I began, I promptly found

that I had to lower my insulin doses by about one-third. ALA and

evening primrose oil do not appear to mimic one important property

of insulin—they don't appear to facilitate fat storage. They are both

available without prescription from health food stores and from some

pharmacies. They have the potential to cause hypoglycemia in

diabetics who inject insulin if they don't adjust their insulin

dosages accordingly. I have never seen them cause hypoglycemia,

however, when they are not used with injected insulin.

Other German studies have shown dramatic improvements in diabetic

neuropathy (nerve damage) when alpha lipoic acid is administered

intravenously in large doses over several weeks. Given its

antioxidant and likely anti-inflammatory properties, this isn't that

surprising. But it falls under the category of " Don't Try This at

Home. " Alpha lipoic acid, like high-dose vitamin E and metformin, can

impede glycosylation and glycation of proteins, both of which cause

many diabetic complications when blood sugars are elevated. I prefer

a brand of alpha lipoic acid called Alpha Lipoic Sustain 300. This is

manufactured by Jarrow Formulas

> Does anyone know antything about Alfa Lopioc Acid???? If you do

> please let me know and does anyone know about taking 1/2 a teaspoon

of

> cinnman a day???

>

> Thanks,

> Liz