Pharmaceutical science offers a large number of weight loss products, most of which have many contraindications, and in order to decide on such a therapy, you need to seriously consider whether it is worth risking your health. Medical research has shown that vitamin preparations, which have almost no contraindications, can help with weight loss. One of them is lipoic acid for weight loss - this drug has been used not so long ago, but judging by the reviews, people who take it have achieved good results.
How does this vitamin affect weight loss? Women who dream of losing weight decide on various experiments, only to achieve the desired goal. They study the Internet and study medical literature, hoping to find a miracle weight loss pill. Lipoic acid is not a magic pill at all, but a complete drug. Other names for this vitamin: thioctocid, alpha lipoic acid. This substance is found in food and is produced by the human body itself, but at a certain age it becomes insufficient. Because thioctosides are powerful antioxidants, a person may be severely deficient under certain conditions.
Indications for use of lipoic acid
Lipoic acid is included in the complex therapy of complications of diabetes. Previously, in many countries, drugs containing this vitamin were used to treat autoimmune diseases and atherosclerosis, but, unfortunately, in practice, the effectiveness of such therapy has not been confirmed. But its positive effect on a number of diseases has been proven, for which stable results have been achieved.
These vitamins are prescribed in complex treatment:
- liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- senile dementia;
- diabetes mellitus;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- oncology;
- poisoning;
- obesity;
- alcoholism.
For weight loss, thioctocid is prescribed due to the fact that it takes an active part in the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, and this is very important for maintaining good physical shape.
Attention! Lipoic acid therapy for weight loss will only be effective when accompanied by dietary adjustments and exercise.
This tool starts the fat burning process, which will not start without physical activity. When muscles are actively working, they need nutrition, and they begin to draw vitamins and minerals from the body, but maybe not enough. Lipoic acid helps to replenish energy reserves and increases one's endurance, making exercise more effective.
Expert opinion
Nutritionist:
If you study the official instructions, you can find out that this is an alpha lipoic acid salt with EDTA. Officially, the drug is indicated for polyneuropathy, fatty degeneration of the liver, as well as chronic intoxication of the body. This substance, unlike L-carnitine, is not produced in our body, and therefore is a drug with a strong antioxidant effect. Its job is to interfere with lipid peroxidation and so-called oxidative stress. That is why it has found its application among lovers of weight loss: after all, a decrease in diet and the use of lipids alone as the first source of energy causes a spike in free radical oxidation, as well as oxidative stress. However, like anything else, the use of drugs has side effects. The drug can cause a change or violation of taste, double vision, hemorrhagic rash, a decrease in plasma glucose with the possible development of a hypoglycemic condition. In some cases, allergic reactions, skin rashes and itching have been described. Official instructions say that before the age of 18, the drug is not used even if indicated, because there are no data on its effectiveness and safety. Also, it should not be taken by pregnant and lactating women. In case of an overdose of this drug, symptoms usually appear in the form of vomiting, nausea and headache. Therefore, it is not recommended to use thioctic acid as an aid in diet and weight loss. After all, there are no official indications for the use of such a drug.
Problem form
Lipoic acid is available in the form of tablets, capsules, suspension powder, and injectable solutions. This substance is also found in various medicinal products.
Attention! Lipoic acid preparations should not be used without consulting an endocrinologist!
Thioctocide is often a component of dietary supplements for athletes and people looking to lose weight.
Slimming Benefits
Most weight loss drugs burn fat, unlike lipoic acid, which works differently in the body.
Attention! During the burning of fat with the help of drugs, harmful substances are formed in the human body, and metabolic processes are disturbed, lipoic acid, on the contrary, heals the body!
Thioctocid has the following qualities:
- activate metabolism and improve it;
- not synthetically produced, as it is a natural ingredient;
- has almost no contraindications;
- side effects when taking lipoic acid are extremely rare;
- Fasting is not necessary to achieve the desired weight loss when taking lipoic acid;
- does not have a fat burning effect, but by converting fat into energy, allowing the body to use it;
- is a relatively inexpensive drug;
- acts on the body in complex ways, not only contributing to weight loss, but also making it healthy;
- positively affects the production of collagen in the skin, therefore, during the process of losing weight, there will be no sagging and stretch marks;
- it can even be used by diabetics, unlike other weight loss drugs.
Lipoic acid helps the body cope with many diseases, has a positive effect on eyesight, heart and lowers blood sugar. Due to the fact that this drug has so many positive qualities, many people choose it for weight loss.
Mechanism of action
Lipoic acid not only has a positive effect on the overall functioning of the body, it affects weight loss. This is because this vitamin works in the following ways:
- reduces the activity of harmful substances 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 the function of the thyroid gland;
- reduces the symptoms of diabetic pathologies, including neuropathy;
- prevent the formation of plaque in blood vessels;
- restore damaged nerve endings;
- significantly reduces appetite;
- stimulates the activity of the liver, restores its damaged cells;
- affects the regeneration of tissues in the body, significantly rejuvenates them.
As a result of taking lipoic acid, unlike other drugs for weight loss, metabolic processes are not disturbed, but on the contrary are activated. Harmful substances are easily removed, and fat cells are converted into energy, providing the body with useful nutrients.
Attention! Lipoic acid is very often used in dietary supplements for bodybuilders, as it allows the body to better cope with strenuous physical exertion and reduces soreness after exhausting workouts.
Thioctacids have the ability to block the action of the proteincanase enzyme, which signals the brain to start eating. Thus, the person does not feel hungry. In addition, this substance increases the absorption of vitamins A and E, which are considered the vitamins of youth.
Instructions for use
Thioctocide, although it is a vitamin preparation, is a drug. Therefore, it would be better if a nutritionist told you how to take lipoic acid for weight loss, prescribe a specific dose of this drug and a course. The fact is that the effectiveness of lipoic acid intake directly depends on the correct calculation of its average daily level. 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 level of lipoic acid should not be more than 600 mg - this level is set for severe diabetes, for weight loss is set a maximum of 200 mg!
Weight loss directly depends on how to take alpha-lipoic acid correctly, so doctors need to calculate the dose individually. The minimum dose of lipoic acid per dose is 25 mg, if you need to lose weight more than 5 kg, the dose is increased to 50 mg. You can start taking this drug at a dose of no more than 20 mg, then gradually increase it.
To increase the effectiveness of thioctocide for weight loss, it is taken:
- at breakfast (before meals or immediately after);
- no later than half an hour after exercise;
- before bedtime.
The effect of the drug will be more effective if the intake is accompanied by the consumption of foods that contain lots of carbohydrates. For example cereals, nuts, sweet fruits, or bread. Lipoic acid prevents the conversion of carbohydrates into fat deposits, but a person's 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 expenditure of energy obtained from the synthesis of fats and the removal of decay products from metabolic processes. When buying a slimming agent, you should pay attention to whether levocarnitine and lipoic acid are present in its composition, if these substances are present in it, then this is a complex agent with a high effect.
Contraindications to use
Lipoic acid is not recommended for children, pregnant women, and people who are allergic to it. This conclusion is drawn from clinical trials.
Attention! Often, many weight losers do not know the correct dose of alpha lipoic acid, in the hope of quickly getting rid of the annoying kg, significantly exceeding the rate of use, which leads to side effects.
People suffer as a result:
- nauseous;
- throw up;
- diarrhea;
- indigestion.
Sometimes patients adhere to the correct dosage of the drug, but they are concerned about the side effects. This occurs with the concomitant intake of alcohol or iron-containing preparations. Therefore, you should carefully study the instructions for using lipoic acid and consult a doctor on how to take it correctly.