alpha-Lipoic acid
Brand names,
alpha-Lipoic acid
Analogs
alpha-Lipoic acid
Brand Names Mixture
alpha-Lipoic acid
Chemical_Formula
C8H14O2S2
alpha-Lipoic acid
RX_link
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
fda sheet
alpha-Lipoic acid
msds (material safety sheet)
alpha-Lipoic acid
Synthesis Reference
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
Molecular Weight
206.317 g/mol
alpha-Lipoic acid
Melting Point
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
H2O Solubility
Insoluble
alpha-Lipoic acid
State
Solid
alpha-Lipoic acid
LogP
1.89
alpha-Lipoic acid
Dosage Forms
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
Indication
For nutritional supplementation, also for treating dietary shortage or imbalance.
alpha-Lipoic acid
Pharmacology
Lipoic acid (or α-lipoic acid) is able to pass the blood-brain barrier and is putatively used for detoxification of mercury attached to the brain cells. It can mobilise bound mercury into the blood stream as it is a mercaptan (sulfur compound which readily binds to the mercury). In the blood stream, another chelator such as dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is used to transfer mercury safely into the urine for excretion. Neither DMSA nor MSM can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is why both lipoic acid and DMSA are used. It is hypothesized that this treatment-along with carnitine, dimethylglycine (DMG), Vitamin B6, folic acid, and magnesium—could be used to treat autism and amalgam poisoning. In this hypothesis, the reason why autism is difficult to treat is that mercury is attached to the brain cells and most medicines and vitamin supplements do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier. However, α-lipoic acid and perhaps vitamin B12 could making it possible for other chelators to remove mercury safely out of the body and could perhaps one day be used as a treatment for autism. Because lipoic acid is related to cellular uptake of glucose and it is both soluble in water and fat, it is being used for treatment in diabetes. It may be helpful for people with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.
alpha-Lipoic acid
Absorption
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
side effects and Toxicity
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
Patient Information
No information avaliable
alpha-Lipoic acid
Organisms Affected
Humans and other mammals