Pharmaceutical science offers a wide variety of weight loss products, most of which have many contraindications, and in order to decide on such therapy, you need to think seriously about whether it is worth risking your health. Medical research has shown that vitamin supplements that have almost no contraindications can contribute to weight loss. One of them is lipoic acid for weight loss - this drug was used not so long ago, but according to the reviews, the people who take it have gotten good results.
How does this vitamin affect weight loss? Women who dream of losing weight opt for various experiments in order to achieve the desired goal. They study the internet and study medical literature in hopes of finding a magical weight loss pill. Lipoic acid is not a magic pill, but a complete drug. Other names for this vitamin: thioctocid, alpha lipoic acid. This substance occurs in food and is produced by the human body itself, but after a certain age it becomes insufficient. Because thioctocid is a powerful antioxidant, a person can be severely deficient in it under certain conditions.
Indications for the use of lipoic acid
Lipoic acid is included in the complex therapy of diabetic complications. Previously, in many countries, drugs containing this vitamin were used to treat autoimmune diseases and atherosclerosis, but unfortunately the effectiveness of such therapy has not been confirmed in practice. But its beneficial effect on a number of diseases is proven, where a stable result has been achieved.
This vitamin is prescribed in a complex treatment:
- Liver diseases, including hepatitis and cirrhosis;
- Diseases of the nervous system;
- Senile dementia;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- chronic fatigue;
- Oncology;
- Poisoning;
- Obesity;
- Alcoholism.
Thioctocid is prescribed for weight loss because it is actively involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, which is of great importance in maintaining good physical condition.
Attention! Lipoic acid therapy for weight loss is only effective if it is accompanied by a change in diet and exercise.
The tool starts the process of burning fat, which does not start without physical activity. When muscles are actively working they need nutrients and start pulling vitamins and minerals from the body, but they may not be enough. Lipoic acid helps replenish energy reserves and increases a person's endurance, making training more effective.
Expert opinion
Nutritionist:
If you study the official instructions, you can find that it is an alpha lipoic acid salt with EDTA. The drug is officially indicated for polyneuropathy, obesity of the liver and chronic poisoning of the body. In contrast to L-carnitine, this substance is not produced in our body and is therefore a drug with a strong antioxidant effect. Its job is to interrupt lipid peroxidation and what is known as oxidative stress. That is why it was used by lovers of weight loss: after all, a reduction in diet and the use of one's own lipids as an energy source initially lead to an increase in oxidation by free radicals and oxidative stress. As with anything else, taking medication has side effects. The drug can cause a change or violation of taste, double vision, hemorrhagic rash, a drop in plasma glucose with the possible development of hypoglycemic conditions. In some cases, allergic reactions, skin rashes, and hives have been reported. The official instructions state that the drug should not be used before the age of 18, even if indicated, as there are no data on efficacy and safety. It should also not be used by pregnant and nursing mothers. Symptoms of vomiting, nausea and headache are most common if you overdose on this drug. It is therefore not recommended to use thioctic acid as an aid in diet and weight loss. After all, there is no official evidence for such use of the drug.
Output forms
Lipoic acid is available in tablets, capsules, suspension powders, and injection solutions. This substance is also contained in various medicines.
Attention! Lipoic acid preparations should not be used without consulting an endocrinologist!
Thioctocid is often a component of dietary supplements for athletes and people who want to lose weight.
Weight Loss Benefits
Most weight loss drugs burn fat unlike lipoic acid, which works differently in the body.
Attention! When fat is burned with the help of drugs, harmful substances are formed in the human body and metabolic processes are disrupted, while lipoic acid heals the body!
Thioctocid has the following properties:
- activates and improves metabolism;
- is not produced synthetically as it is a natural substance;
- has almost no contraindications;
- Side effects when taking lipoic acid are very rare;
- Fasting is not required to achieve desired weight loss while taking lipoic acid;
- does not have fat burning effects, but by processing fats into energy it allows the body to use them;
- is a relatively inexpensive drug;
- acts on the body in a complex way, contributing not only to weight loss, but also making it healthy;
- has a positive effect on the production of collagen in the skin, therefore, during the process of losing weight, there is no sagging and stretch marks;
- Unlike other weight loss drugs, the drug can even be used by diabetics.
Lipoic acid helps the body with many ailments, has a positive effect on eyesight, heart and blood sugar. Due to the fact that this drug has so many beneficial properties, many people choose it for weight loss.
Mechanism of action
Not only does lipoic acid have a positive effect on the functioning of the entire body, this drug also has an effect on weight loss. This is because this vitamin works in the following ways:
- reduces the activity of pollutants and their effect on the body;
- removes radionuclides, heavy metals, toxins and decay products;
- stimulates the process of burning sugar by the body and normalizes its amount in the blood;
- has a beneficial effect on the walls of blood vessels;
- stimulates thyroid function;
- reduces symptoms of diabetic diseases, including neuropathy;
- prevents the formation of plaques in blood vessels;
- restores damaged nerve endings;
- significantly reduces appetite;
- stimulates the activity of the liver, restores its damaged cells;
- affects the regeneration of tissues in the body and significantly rejuvenates them.
By taking lipoic acid, in contrast to other drugs for weight loss, metabolic processes are not disrupted but, on the contrary, activated. Harmful substances are easily eliminated, and fat cells are converted into energy, providing the body with useful nourishment.
Attention! Lipoic acid is very commonly used in bodybuilder supplements because it enables the body to cope better with heavy physical activity and relieves pain after strenuous exercise.
Thioctacid has the ability to block the action of the enzyme protein canase, which signals the brain to start eating. Thus, the person does not feel hungry. In addition, this substance improves the absorption of vitamins A and E, which are considered vitamins of youth.
Instructions for use
Thioctocid, although a vitamin supplement, is a medicine. Therefore, it is better if a nutritionist tells you how to take lipoic acid for weight loss, prescribes a specific dosage of this drug and a course. The fact is that the effectiveness of lipoic acid intake directly depends on the correct calculation of the average daily rate. The fact is that an overdose of this drug can harm the body and cause hypoglycemia - a condition in which blood sugar levels are much lower than normal.
Attention! The daily dose of lipoic acid should not be more than 600 mg - this rate is set to a maximum of 200 mg in the case of severe diabetes and weight loss!
Weight loss is directly related to how properly drinking alpha lipoic acid, so the doctor must calculate the dose individually. The minimum dose of lipoic acid per dose is 25 mg, if you need to lose more than 5 kg, the dose is increased to 50 mg. You can start taking this drug with a dose of no more than 20 mg, then it will be increased gradually.
To increase the effectiveness of thioctocid for weight loss, it is taken:
- at breakfast (before meals or immediately after);
- half an hour after exercise at the latest;
- Before sleep.
The effect of the drug is more effective if its ingestion is accompanied by consumption of foods that contain a large amount of carbohydrates. For example, cereals, pulses, sweet fruits or bread. Lipoic acid prevents the conversion of carbohydrates into fat deposits, but the human energy reserves are replenished.
Lipoic acid and other drugs
In some preparations, this substance is called L-carnitine, which is practically the same. This substance is an acid that promotes the energy expenditure from fat synthesis and the removal of the breakdown products from metabolic processes. When buying a slimming product, you should pay attention to whether levocarnitine and lipoic acid are present in its composition, if these substances are included, then it is a complex product with a high level of effectiveness.
Contraindications to its use
Lipoic acid is not recommended for children, pregnant women and allergy sufferers. This conclusion was drawn from clinical studies.
Attention! Often, many people who lose weight, who do not know the correct dosage of alpha lipoic acid, in the hope of getting rid of pesky pounds quickly, significantly exceed the rate of use, which leads to side effects.
People suffer from:
- Nausea;
- Vomit;
- Diarrhea;
- Heartburn.
Sometimes patients stick to the exact dosage of the drug but worry about the side effects. This happens when you take alcohol or iron-containing preparations at the same time. Therefore, carefully read the instructions for use of lipoic acid and consult a doctor on the correct intake.