Dietary supplements can support your gut health, but can you take them to lose weight, reduce triglycerides, oxidative stress, or as an additional treatment for diabetes, age-related cognitive decline, and heart disease? An expert weighs in

In a study conducted by scientists from the University of Oregon (OSU) and published in the esteemed Journal of Nutrition, a dietary supplement compound showcased remarkable weight loss benefits among overweight yet generally healthy individuals.

The study focused on 31 participants who received 600mg of lipoic acid supplementation over a period of 24 weeks. A carefully selected control group of individuals with comparable weight was administered a placebo for comparison purposes. The findings unveiled the significant impact of the dietary supplement on weight reduction.

The results “clearly showed a loss in body weight and body fat in people taking lipoic acid supplements. Particularly in women and in the heaviest participants,” adds co-author Dr. Balz Frei.

Naturally occurring in various plant and animal sources such as broccoli, spinach, and organ meats, lipoic acid stands as a medium-chain fatty acid with crucial metabolic and energy-generating properties.

Although our bodies naturally produce lipoic acid in limited quantities, supplementing with this compound appears to provide additional advantages beyond its role in energy production.

Over-the-counter lipoic acid supplements claim various advantages, including the potential to lower blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol levels, and exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Additionally, lipoic acid is utilized as a supplementary treatment for conditions such as diabetes, age-related cognitive decline, and heart disease.

“In both rodent models and small-scale human clinical trials,” points out co-author Dr. Alexander Michels, “researchers at the LPI have demonstrated the beneficial effects of lipoic acid on oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and circadian rhythm.”

Professor Tory Hagen, the lead author of the study, emphasized that this research aimed to address two crucial aspects that have frequently been overlooked in previous clinical trials.

Numerous clinical studies examining lipoic acid have predominantly involved participants with pre-existing conditions, particularly diabetes, making it challenging to discern whether lipoic acid supplements solely serve as disease treatments or possess broader health benefits.

Another aspect of concern pertains to the formulation of the supplement itself. Previous studies frequently employed the synthetic S form of lipoic acid, which is not naturally occurring and is produced through industrial synthesis. This raises questions about the comparability and applicability of findings to lipoic acid in its natural form.

“We only used the R form of lipoic acid,” adds Professor Hagen, “the form found in the body naturally.”

The research team observed a noteworthy correlation between weight loss and decreased levels of blood triglycerides, which are the primary constituents of body fat.

At the conclusion of the study, certain indicators of inflammation demonstrated a decline.

The results also reveal “that lipoic acid supplementation provides a mild reduction in oxidative stress.”

Professor Hagen adds: “It is not a perfect panacea, but our results show that lipoic acid supplements can be beneficial.”

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