Inflammation-Modulating Activity of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Studied

A new study investigated the mechanism of alpha-lipoic acid on inflammatory processes. Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant and free-radical scavenger that is both fat and water-soluble.

In this recently published study, researchers evaluated the activity of alpha-lipoic acid on markers of both short-term (rapid-onset) and chronic inflammatory processes. The investigators supplemented rats with 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of alpha-lipoic acid. The rats were injected with carrageenan, which is a type of sulfated polysaccharide used to induce inflammation in experimental animal models. The rats were then evaluated for paw edema (swelling) every 60 minutes. The researchers also evaluated the activity of several antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory markers including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and myeloperoxidase. Additionally, levels of lipid peroxidation and total glutathione in the paw tissues were also measured to evaluate antioxidant status and oxidative stress.

The results of the study indicated that alpha-lipoic acid exerted positive effects on the carrageenan-induced inflammation. More specifically, alpha-lipoic acid administration inhibited the degree of inflammation as well as modulated the activity and levels of several important enzymes and inflammatory markers.

The researchers stated, “In conclusion, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of alpha-lipoic acid, which has a strong anti-oxidative potency, could be related to its positive effects on the antioxidant system in a variety of tissues in rats.”

Reference:

Odabasoglu F, Halici Z, Aygun H, Halici M, Atalay F, Cakir A, Cadirci E, Bayir Y, Suleyman H. α-Lipoic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties: an experimental study in rats with carrageenan-induced acute and cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammations. Brit J Nutr. 2010 Nov 15. Published Online Ahead of Print.