Popular supplement might prove to be totally USELESS
In this DML Report…
A new study from Oregon State University, published in the Journal of Nutrition, has found that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a widely used supplement for weight loss, diabetes, and anti-aging, offers no significant health benefits in humans. The research reviewed 16 clinical trials and concluded that ALA, sold in 600 mg doses for $15 to $30 monthly, fails to improve blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, or weight loss. Approximately 5 million U.S. adults—2% of the population—take ALA yearly, yet the study shows its effects are virtually nonexistent, challenging its $200 million market value as of 2023.
Researchers, led by Tory Hagen, analyzed ALA’s impact on healthy adults and those with conditions like obesity or prediabetes, testing doses up to 1,200 mg daily—far higher than the body’s natural production or dietary intake from foods like spinach. Despite claims from supplement companies touting ALA as an antioxidant that boosts metabolism and fights oxidative stress, the meta-analysis highlighted inconsistent and weak prior studies, often limited by small sample sizes. The results: no measurable benefits, even at high doses, exposing the gap between marketing promises and scientific reality.
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While ALA showed slight metabolic improvements in mice, human trials found no such effects, though it remains safe with no reported side effects. The FDA regulates supplements for safety, not efficacy, leaving consumers vulnerable to unproven claims. Hagen recommends focusing on proven strategies like diet and exercise over ALA, urging larger, more robust studies to confirm these findings, while the supplement industry faces scrutiny for profiting off a product that may be little more than a placebo.