ALA (alpha lipoic acid) is a type of vitamin B1 that is believed to increase insulin sensitivity. It is also believed that it may reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
ALA may increase insulin sensitivity
Several clinical trials have found that ALA (R-Alpha Lipoic Acid) may increase insulin sensitivity. This compound is one of the body’s most powerful antioxidants.
It is believed that ALA improves blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, and reduces inflammation. Its antioxidant properties also improve blood vessel tone. These mechanisms may be useful in managing diabetes complications.
ALA has been used in diabetic patients for more than a decade. Its unique properties and potential to treat neuropathy have received significant attention. However, many studies are still needed to fully understand its benefits.
An oral dose of 1200 mg of ALA was associated with a significant improvement in neuropathy symptoms. In addition to improving neuropathy symptoms, ALA reduced GH-Px, GH-Px, and insulin resistance. In a study of obese diabetic human subjects, ALA also reduced body weight.
ALA is a water-soluble compound that has antioxidant properties. It is widely distributed in cellular membranes and the cytosol. ALA inhibits AMPK phosphorylation in the hypothalamic and paraventricular nuclei, while increasing AMPK activation in skeletal muscles. In addition, ALA improves lipid control, oxidative stress, and blood vessel tone.
The most common ALA on the market is a mixture of R and S. This formulation is referred to as R-ALA, which is the most biologically active form of the compound. The R-form of ALA is also the most bioavailable form.
Several studies have found that ALA reduces inflammation. Its antioxidant properties may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are both linked to insulin resistance and diabetic complications.
ALA improves insulin sensitivity in rats by increasing insulin stimulated glucose disposal. It also improves endothelial dysfunction in the presence of acute hyperglycemia. ALA improves lipid control by reducing triglyceride accumulation in skeletal muscles. It is thought that ALA improves insulin sensitivity by increasing AMPK activity. ALA also suppresses a2 MAPK activity in the lateral hypothalamic region.
ALA also inhibits a2 MAPK activity in the arcuate nucleus, and suppresses AMPK activity in the paraventricular nucleus. It was found that adenovirus-mediated administration of dominant negative AMPK prevented ALA’s induced AMPK activation, thus preventing ALA’s induced increase in fatty acid oxidation.
Benfotiamine is a vitamin B1 precursor
Among the various vitamins that help the body to produce energy, Benfotiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 and thiamine, is thought to be helpful for treating diabetic comorbidities. Benfotiamine can help prevent diabetic polyneuropathy, a disease that affects the nerves in the peripheral nervous system. These nerves are responsible for the movement of the organs. They can also be affected by diabetic comorbidities, resulting in pain and loss of limbs.
Benfotiamine can be administered orally to increase thiamine levels in the blood and liver. This results in a reduction in advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which cause damage to the nerves.
In addition to improving glucose metabolism, Benfotiamine may also help with other medical conditions associated with oxidative stress. This includes diabetic comorbidities, kidney disease, stroke prevention and heart disease. Benfotiamine also reduces plaque formation on teeth.
Benfotiamine is a laboratory-made version of the vitamin B1 thiamine. This is found in the vitamin B complex and is soluble in fats. It is often taken in the form of supplements at 300 to 600 mg a day. Benfotiamine supplements may also be helpful for other medical conditions, including stroke prevention and cholesterol control.
Benfotiamine is also being studied to see if it can help treat alcoholism and Alzheimer’s disease. It may also help with nerve pain. This research has been done on mice, although it has not been studied in humans.
During the study, the mice were force-fed with 100 ml HP-b-CD solution containing 100 mg benfotiamine per kilogram of body weight. A control group received a 100 ml HP-b-CD mixture without benfotiamine. After 30 minutes, the concentrations of intracellular free thiamine were the same in both groups. Afterward, the concentrations of thiamine in the liver were elevated, but did not significantly differ. TM also exhibited a relatively long elimination half-life in all doses.
Benfotiamine was first reported in 1961 by Wada et al. It is believed to be an S-acyl derivative of the thiamin molecule. In other studies, benfotiamine has been administered at concentrations of 50 to 100 mM.
Benfotiamine may have potential for toxicity in chronic use. It may cause lipid peroxidation at toxic doses, leading to DNA fragmentation. It may also interact with other medications. It is important to monitor carbohydrates during treatment to prevent dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.
Side effects of benfotiamine
Several studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine for diabetes can help reduce the risks of developing diabetic complications. These medications act by improving the body’s response to insulin, which helps to reduce the amount of dangerous build-up of sugar in the bloodstream.
Taking alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine may also help prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy, a disease of the retina that can lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by the damage of small blood vessels in the retina. It is a dreaded complication of diabetes, as well as a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. It is also associated with high rates of diabetes-related kidney disease, which increases the risk of overall mortality.
Alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine are two dietary supplements that have shown promising effects in animal models. Alpha lipoic acid is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and has been found to alleviate symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy, a complication of diabetes that involves peripheral nerves. Benfotiamine has also been found to reduce symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, as well as other diabetes-related complications.
Alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine can be helpful for people with diabetes because of the way they protect the heart and kidneys. They can also reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, which can cause painful leg and foot pain. And they can prevent the painful side effects of diabetic retinopathy.
In the US, alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine have become available as dietary supplements. They are inexpensive, safe, and well-tolerated. They can be used to treat diabetes-related complications such as neuropathy, kidney disease, retinopathy, and nephropathy. In addition, they can protect the brain and kidneys, reducing the risks of a heart attack or stroke. A study of 73 individuals found a fewer number of signs of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in those who took 800 mg of alpha lipoic acid.
Alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine also improve the quality of life for people with diabetic neuropathy. Studies have shown that benfotiamine alleviates anxiety and depression symptoms in mice, and improves recovery after a heart attack. And it can reduce plaque build-up in Alzheimer’s disease brain cells. In addition, it can increase the effectiveness of antioxidant defenses, which are essential for protecting cells from damage caused by high blood sugar.
Distal symmetric painful diabetic neuropathy
Despite the high prevalence of diabetes, there is no satisfactory treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Some patients report intermittent or continuous pain, which is usually located in the distal-to-proximal distribution of the peripheral nerves. The diagnosis is based on a history of neuropathic pain and confirmatory examination findings. The symptoms are typically symmetric. There are a variety of treatments available, including symptomatic and nonpharmacological interventions.
Benfotiamine, a fat-soluble analogue of thiamine, has been studied for its effects on diabetic neuropathy. It is believed to inhibit three pathways involved in the vascular damage associated with diabetes. However, studies evaluating benfotiamine in diabetic peripheral neuropathy did not show a significant improvement in peripheral nerve function.
Other studies have examined the use of oxcarbazepine and topiramate for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. These drugs have been shown to decrease pain and to improve motor function. However, more studies are needed to identify the most effective drug combinations.
In addition, studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on diabetic painful neuropathy. It has also been found that alpha-lipoic acid may help with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, most studies have used intravenous alpha-lipoic acid.
In the Diabetes Care study, ten years of follow-up was observed to evaluate the effects of benfotiamine on the progression of diabetes complications and on peripheral nerve function. Patients with neuropathy were randomly assigned to receive benfotiamine or placebo. It was found that the primary outcome measure, a decrease in the vascular damage score, was improved in the benfotiamine group. However, the reduction in the vascular damage score was not significant in the placebo group.
There are other studies that are currently being conducted to evaluate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The results of these studies have been published in journals, such as Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. This may indicate that alpha-lipoic acid is an effective therapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant, and has been shown to kill free radicals in the body. It is also believed to have beneficial effects on heart health. Despite the promising results of these studies, more research is needed to evaluate whether alpha-lipoic acid is effective for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
