Alpha-lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease glucose and insulin (1,2). ALA may also improve insulin sensitivity through enhanced GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells (3).
ALA's use in neuropathy has been studied and is commonly used as in place of or as an adjunct to other therapies. In one study, ALA was found to be more cost effective than gabapentin (4).
Common doses of Alpha-lipoic acid are 200 to 800mg daily. Usual dose for neuropathy is 600mg daily.
The most common side effect of ALA is nausea. Insomnia, fatigue, diarrhea, and rashes have also been reported.
1. Jacob S, Ruus P, Hermann R, et al. Oral administration of RAC-alpha-lipoic acid modulates insulin sensitivity in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: A placebo-controlled, pilot trial. Free Rad Biol Med 1999;27:309-14.
2. Jacob S, Henriksen EJ, Schiemann AL, et al. Enhancement of glucose disposal in patients with type 2 diabetes by alpha-lipoic acid. Arzneimittelforschung, 1995;45:872-4.
3. Konrad D, Somwar R, et al. The antihyperglycemic drug alpha-lipoic acid stimulates glucose uptake via both GLUT4 translocation and GLUT4 activation: potential role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in GLUT4 activation. Diabetes. 2001 Jun;50(6):1464-71.
4. Ruessmann HJ. Switching from pathogenetic treatment with alpha-lipoic acid to gabapentin and other analgesics in painful diabetic neuropathy: A real-world study in outpatients. J Diabetes Complications, April 2008.