ALA is a naturally occurring compound that serves many vital bodily functions at the cellular level. ALA is an antioxidant that is found in every cell of the human body. Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit cellular oxidation, a process that produces free radicals that can damage cells and undermine their function. ALA is sometimes referred to as the universal antioxidant because it supports other antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and glutathione. It is also a powerful detoxifying agent and antioxidant, and serves a critical role in energy production. ALA serves as a protective nutrient and supports liver, neuronal and muscle cells, and removes toxins from the brain and other organs. ALA protects against nerve oxidative damage, resulting in a beneficial effect on both the peripheral and central nervous systems. This also results in a positive influence on nerve conduction and nerve blood flow.
Healthy people typically produce all the ALA they need for these purposes, but supplementation and IV infusion of ALA has become popular in recent years as a treatment for many health conditions and a general anti-aging agent.
WHAT IS ALA USED FOR?
ALA IV infusion therapy is used to treat peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain caused by diabetes, cancer treatment, or nerve damage. ALA is one of the few nutrients able to cross the blood brain barrier, which is important for brain health and nerve pain reduction.
- Anti-aging: ALA is crucial to mitochondria! health. Mitochondria are tiny organelles inside human cells that help convert glucose to ATP. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to aging and chronic disease in humans.
- Weight loss: ALA enhances your cells' ability to use glucose to produce energy. Greater energy expenditure can help you burn more fuel, which helps you to reduce fat stores and rev up metabolism.
- Reversal of Type II Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy: ALA improves insulin sensitivity of the cells, enabling them to use circulating glucose for energy production, which lowers blood sugar.
- Treatment of Dementia and Cognitive Decline: ALA can penetrate the blood brain barrier to protect the mitochondria in brain tissue. ALA is currently being studied as an effective treatment of multiple sclerosis.
- Chronic Pain: ALA is effective in treating chronic pain. Treatment consists of 2-3 infusions per week for 3-4 weeks followed by maintenance infusion once every few months.