What is Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses In the 1930s, it was found that a certain potato growth factor was necessary for growth of certain bacteria. In 1951, a fat-soluble coenzyme factor was discovered from lactic acid bacteria. This naturally occurring d-form was isolated and found to be an important growth factor for many bacteria and protozoa. This compound was isolated and identified as alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), the most active form of lipoic acid. General uses ALA has been used as an antioxidant for the treatment of diabetes and HIV. It also has been used for cancer, liver ailments, and various other conditions.
