alpha lipoic acid

I think the most important aspect to consider when buying Alpha Lipoic Acid is to make sure it's the R-ALA form that the body can use:

www.livestrong.com/article/534545-r-lipoic-acid-neuropathy/

www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/10/nu_lipoic_acid/page-01

I've been buying Life Extension brand as of late.

Please be aware that ALA interferes with thyroid hormone conversion. I'd hope that people with healthy thyroids are able to compensate for this but those taking thyroid meds need to keep this in mind.

cd3764 could you please tell me more about in which way it can affect thyroid? because I am taking it and now I am very afraid

blueberrymuffin said...
cd3764 could you please tell me more about in which way it can affect thyroid? because I am taking it and now I am very afraid

Please be comforted in knowing that, in his "Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines", ILADS co-founder Dr. Burrascano lists ALA as a "required supplement" in the nutritional supplements section that starts on page 27 here:

www.ilads.org/lyme/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

This article:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1815532

explains that, **when taken concurrently with thryoxine** (T4 meds such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, levothyroxine), ALA can affect the conversion of that T4 to T3, the metabolically active thyroid hormone.

Most people who take thyroid meds (me included) have issues with conversion anyway and need to take exogenous T3.

Therefore, it's not uncommon to need a T3 dose increase when also taking ALA. Heck, I've needed T4 dose increases as well since I've been dealing with Lyme

ALA has way too many benefits for me to consider not taking it:

www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/10/nu_lipoic_acid/page-01

In fact, I plan on taking ALA for the rest of my life.

I've had trouble finding any information to determine whether or not ALA affects conversion in a person with a healthy thyroid.

Anyone being treated for Lyme should be having their thyroid hormone levels monitored anyway. Lyme is famous for messing with the thyroid (among many, many other organs/body systems).

Hope this helps.

PaulnJordansmommy2 said...
Is it true that someone with amalgam fillings cannot take ala?I gave it to my kids before but I was scared to take it because according to the Andrew cutler protocol, you aren't supposed to take it if you have amalgams.

I also read that on here awhile back...so I stopped taking it.

For whatever it's worth, R-ALA is part of Dr. Mercola's mercury detox protocol:

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/13/mercury-detoxification-protocol.aspx