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bigmeb
04-03-2002, 09:17 PM
what is ala and how does it differ from milk thistle

TAZ
04-03-2002, 09:45 PM
Here is one of the many posts that these guys over at Elite have been conversing about over the last couple of months. HUCK posted this one.

<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->Found a nice little abstract on the benefits of this multi-functional compound that I thought you guys might find worth reading.ALA is an often overlooked nutritional aid that has some unique capabilities-The ability to REVERSE liver cell damage,potent anti-oxidative activity,and the ability to improve response to insulin more favorably.Folks using orals/and or bulking may want to start implementing this agent into their regimens,as it will help keep the excess spillover of carbs you&#39;re consuming from beind stored as lipids...Enjoy

Alpha-lipoic acid in liver metabolism and disease.
Bustamante J, Lodge JK, Marcocci L, Tritschler HJ, Packer L, Rihn BH
Free Radic Biol Med 1998 Apr 24:1023-39

Abstract
R-alpha-Lipoic acid is found naturally occurring as a prosthetic group in alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes of the mitochondria, and as such plays a fundamental role in metabolism. Although this has been known for decades, only recently has free supplemented alpha-lipoic acid been found to affect cellular metabolic processes in vitro, as it has the ability to alter the redox status of cells and interact with thiols and other antioxidants. Therefore, it appears that this compound has important therapeutic potential in conditions where oxidative stress is involved. Early case studies with alpha-lipoic acid were performed with little knowledge of the action of alpha-lipoic acid at a cellular level, but with the rationale that because the naturally occurring protein bound form of alpha-lipoic acid has a pivotal role in metabolism, that supplementation may have some beneficial effect. Such studies sought to evaluate the effect of supplemented alpha-lipoic acid, using low doses, on lipid or carbohydrate metabolism, but little or no effect was observed. A common response in these trials was an increase in glucose uptake, but increased plasma levels of pyruvate and lactate were also observed, suggesting that an inhibitory effect on the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was occurring. During the same period, alpha-lipoic acid was also used as a therapeutic agent in a number of conditions relating to liver disease, including alcohol-induced damage, mushroom poisoning, metal intoxification, and CCl4 poisoning. Alpha-Lipoic acid supplementation was successful in the treatment for these conditions in many cases. Experimental studies and clinical trials in the last 5 years using high doses of alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg in humans) have provided new and consistent evidence for the therapeutic role of antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetic polyneuropathy. This new insight should encourage clinicians to use alpha-lipoic acid in diseases affecting liver in which oxidative stress is involved.[/quote]