Alpha Lipoic Acid

It may be a good idea and benefit to look more into this supplement. Talk it over with your doctor and family before making a decision to add this for your child/children. We have provided this information after researching this topic.

Alpha lipoic acid in Spectrum Needs

ALA is added in order to provide a wide basis of nutrition, and for its antioxidant properties in ameliorating an underlying defect in redox metabolism or mitochondrial dysfunction. Due to the potential for nausea, the ALA dose in Spectrum Needs is moderate, and lower than that used in mitochondrial disease. Side effects are unexpected.

The Details

What Is It? Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a fatty acid that acts as a strong antioxidant. While it is an essential compound, it can be produced in small amounts by humans, and thus is not a true vitamin.

What Does It Do? Alpha lipoic acid is an essential cofactor in the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex that is a critical step in carbohydrate metabolism. ALA is also a required cofactor for enzymes in the Krebs cycle, and in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids and glycine. ALA has been found to activate the insulin-signaling cascade and increase glucose uptake in cultured fat and muscle cells. Its main interest as a supplement, however, is that of a powerful antioxidant. In the latter capacity, it serves to regenerate active forms of glutathione, and vitamins C and E following their uses.

What Does Deficiency Appear as? Alpha lipoic acid is synthesized by human cells, and deficiency of this nutrient is unknown, except in rare metabolic disorders affecting enzymes in ALA biosynthesis, whereas it presents as mitochondrial disease (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24777537).

What About Its Use in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? The role of alpha lipoic acid in the treatment of autism is not well studied. ALA is often used as part of a regiment for mitochondrial disease due to its many effects in energy metabolism. However, its use of in ASD is mostly driven by its antioxidant properties in ameliorating an underlying defect on reactive oxygen species (ROS or redox) metabolism and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. Several lines of evidence support the notion that some children with ASD have abnormal redox metabolism (this topic is reviewed in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4910649/pdf/cmped-10-2016-043.pdf).