Therapeutic Benefits of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Elevated oxidative stress is a common denominator between pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and diabetes complications, prompting the use of antioxidant compounds in diabetes therapy. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), has been investigated for its role as a potent antioxidant in diabetes treatment and the results from clinical trials indicate improved glucose metabolism, reduced oxidative stress, improved endothelial dysfunction, a decline in platelet reactivity and moderate improvements to weight loss yet conflicting data regarding insulin metabolism. ALA inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB), chelates divalent transient metal ions and induces the expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This narrative review explores the results from clinical trials investigating the role of ALA in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords:

• alpha-lipoic acid
• diabetes mellitus
• glucose metabolism
• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the office of research, Endeavour College of Natural Health for their generous support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received to support this work.

Notes on contributors

Sam Jeffrey

Sam Jeffrey completed his Bachelor of Health Sciences in Naturopathy from Endeavour College of Natural Health, Perth, Western Australia. His research interests are digestive disorders, the human gut microbiome and nutrition.

Punitha Isaac Samraj

Punitha Isaac Samraj, MPharm, PhD is affiliated to Endeavour College of Natural Health, Perth, Western Australia. Her research interests are diabetes, obesity, antioxidants, safety use of complementary medicine and medicinal plants.

Behin Sundara Raj

Behin Sundara Raj, MPharm, PhD is affiliated to Curtin University. His research interests are in the field of cancer, drug delivery and nano particlesy.