Alpha-lipoic acid

What Is Alpha-lipoic acid?

Alpha-lipoic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that can be found in many foods such as yeast, spinach, broccoli, potatoes, and organ meats such as liver or kidney.
Alpha-lipoic acid has been used as a nutritional supplement and antioxidant.
Not all uses for alpha-lipoic acid have been approved by the FDA. Alpha-lipoic acid should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.
Alpha-lipoic acid is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Alpha-lipoic acid may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.
Not all uses for alpha-lipoic acid have been approved by the FDA. Alpha-lipoic acid should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.
Alpha-lipoic acid is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Talk with a doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider before using alpha-lipoic acid if you have kidney or liver disease, diabetes, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or a thyroid disorder.
Use alpha-lipoic acid as directed on the label, or as your healthcare provider has prescribed. Do not use this product in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Taking alpha-lipoic acid may lower your blood sugar. Tell your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider if you have symptoms such as hunger, weakness, nausea, irritability, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, confusion, sweating, fast heart rate, or fainting.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, and you may have none at all.
Ask a doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia); or
• a thyroid disorder.

It is not known whether alpha-lipoic acid will harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this product.
Alpha-lipoic acid can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without telling your healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.