Prof. Tory Hagen, Ph.D – Joe Finegan -Ben Mohl

A compound given as a dietary supplement to overweight but otherwise healthy people in a clinical trial caused many of the patients to slim down, research by Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University showed. The research, published in the Journal of Nutrition, analyzed the effects of 24 weeks of daily, 600-milligram doses of lipoic acid supplements on 31 people, with a similarly sized control group receiving a placebo. "The data clearly showed a loss in body weight and body fat in people taking lipoic acid supplements," said Balz Frei, director emeritus of OSU's Linus Pauling Institute and one of the scientists on the study. "Particularly in women and in the heaviest participants." PLUS As the Carnivore Diet sweeps the nation, people are looking for better cuts of meat to satisfy their appetite. The Carnivore Diet has been attributed to reducing inflammation, pain and autoimmunity in many people who try it. But choosing your beef wisely is important. Save 25% OFF all Certified Piedmontese beef plus get 2 pounds of ground beef free and free shipping https://shrnetwork.biz/SAVE25 and use code SHR.

Study discussed on today's show: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Long-Term (R)-α-Lipoic Acid Supplementation Promotes Weight Loss in Overweight or Obese Adults without Altering Baseline Elevated Plasma Triglyceride Concentrations - https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/150/9/2336/5874419

[2:50] Dr. Hagan’s background in studying ALA.

• Started studying it in the mid- 90’s.
• Looking at potential improvements in health span.

[6:25] Study design.

• How does R-lipoic acid help obesity in otherwise healthy individually?
• These individuals were probably in early stages of progressive obesity in which serious problems hadn’t occurred yet.
• Meta analyses show a positive effect on BMI, but they also have confounding variables.

[12:45] What do the other racemic forms of ALA do?

• The r form is synthesized in the body.
• Lipoic acid in the diet is taken in by the sodium dependent vitamin transfer protein.
• Disposed of within 24 hours.
• S form works at a less active rate than the r form.

[16:35] Study design continued.

• Double blind placebo.
• Subjects had a BMI of 30 or above.
• No change in lifestyle. No weight loss supplements.
• 600mg of r ala/day. 30 minutes before breakfast.

[23:10] Is it an insulin mimetic or a GDA?

• Improved insulin sensitivity on the receptor level in rodents.
• 24 week study.

[30:00] why use a bolus dose?

• Lipoic acid does have some effects on circadian rhythm in rodents.
• Hagan suggests dosing in the morning to regulate sleep cycles.

[32:10] Those higher on the BMI lost 3-4 lbs of fat.

• Based on dexa scan.
• A moderate dose provided an ongoing effect, especially in women.

[33:55] subjects were asked to keep their diet unchanged.

• No evidence of appetite suppression.

[36:00] Contraindications.

• Upset stomach in a small group of people.

[37:05] Delivery methods?

• R-ala is absorbed very well on its own.

[39:00] will Ala harm you if you have mercury fillings?

• Hagan knows of no research that shows ALA to be a mercury transporter in the body.
• It is a good chelator, but it doesn’t remove metals from proteins.

[42;05] Effect on inflammation and inflammaging.

• ALA is a weak stressor that causes hermetic response.

[55:00] doe sit play a role in altering the microbiome?

• We don’t know yet.
• The actual efficacious molecules could be metabolites that the microbiome excretes after feeding on ALA.

[57:45] ALA, autoimmunity, and neuropathy.

• Positive effect on neuropathies caused by diabetes.
• 1200mg/day.

[59:50] what about mega dosing ALA with rapamycin?

[1:07:35] why Piedmontese is the best beef in the world.

• One reason is the higher protein content per pound of beef.