At the time, John was a researcher in a leading cancer lab and was looking into how cancer becomes metastatic. One of the many steps in this process is increased cell motility – the ability of the cancer cells to move. And when he looked at his wife’s cancer cells that he had cultured, they were the most motile he’d ever seen as they climbed on top of one another. As he tells the story, he placed alpha lipoic acid on the cells and they froze. All motility stopped. It was so dramatic that he thought his microscope camera had frozen.
Since we don’t sell lipoic acid, I can say that if you’re concerned about getting cancer or if you have cancer, you should ask your clinician about taking alpha lipoic acid. The one brand that we’ve tested many times that works very well and is also among the least expensive you can buy is the VitaCost brand – 240 capsules for $36. Typically, there is a web coupon you can find that makes it less expensive.
Some people swear by R-lipoic acid and say not to take alpha lipoic acid. Alpha lipoic acid is composed of 50% r-lipoic acid and 50% s-lipoic acid. The R and S are known as isomers or enantiomers and refer to how the molecules are shaped around the center. Some people think that the R and S versions cancel out one another, which is not true. Our bodies can only use the r-lipoic acid. It ignores the S. But the purified r-lipoic acid is significantly more expensive, which is why I use alpha lipoic acid.
So, what else does it do besides help with cancer?
I take it because it increases my energy and lowers my blood sugar levels. It works to increase energy by turning on a signaling pathway for energy metabolism in mitochondria.
And it helps lower blood sugar levels by improving your body's ability to use its own insulin. There is research showing that it also helps reduce the symptoms of neuropathy including diabetic neuropathy that causes nerve damage in people with diabetes.
Other benefits include antioxidative effects, improved visual health, brain health, migraine relief, liver health, and skin.
This week, I spoke to someone who is taking it for nerve pain in their leg.
How much should you take? 600 mg per day is plenty. Don’t take more than 1200 mg for a sustained period of time or else it will make you feel bad.
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