Exercise and Alpha Lipoic Acid – the Antioxidant Controversy

If you're vigorously exercising to shed pounds you're burning more oxygen — which creates more free radicals. Antioxidants such as alpha lipoic acid can help neutralize and protect your body from those excess free radicals. ^(iv.111)

However, currently there is considerable disagreement amongst researchers about the benefits of using antioxidant supplements with an exercise program. In fact, some even suggest that antioxidants could be bad for you when combined with exercise. ^(iv.118)

How Can Antioxidants Be Detrimental?

Even though free radicals are often harmful to the body, they also are helpful in certain circumstances. For example, during exercise they serve as signals for the body's muscle cells to adapt and respond to the increased demand for energy: ^{(iv.111, 118)}

Figure IV.4: Exercise, Free Radicals, and Cell Energy

Studies show that antioxidant supplements (including alpha lipoic acid) block the free radicals generated by exercise. In addition, some studies suggest that oral antioxidants could cause one or more of the following negative effects:

• Stop muscle cells from adapting to exercise and developing more mitochondria to make more cell energy. ^(iv.118)
• Impair muscle cells antioxidant defenses. ^(iv.120)
• Decrease cell energy. ^(iv.118)
• Reverse positive benefits of exercise on reducing blood pressure in elderly. ^(iv.117)

The Positive Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid and Exercise

The assertions that antioxidants are ineffective or detrimental when combined with exercise are controversial. ^{(iv.119, 136)}

Other researchers found that alpha lipoic acid:

• Had beneficial or no effect on markers believed to be involved with cell energy and exercise. ^{(iv.121, 137)}
• Did not decrease the natural glutathione antioxidant system. ^(iv.138)
• Protected against free radical damage. ^(iv.138)

The Bottom Line

The final word isn't in yet on using alpha lipoic acid in combination with exercise. On the surface it can be difficult to understand why there is so much conflicting data between studies. However, it's not as murky as it seems if you consider all the factors that can change the results. For example: ^{(iv.136, 139)}

• Different fitness and health levels of participants (e.g., elderly, athletes, diabetics, etc.) or test animals.
• Types and duration of exercise.
• Dosage, timing, and form of alpha lipoic acid (e.g., before or after exercise, intravenous alpha lipoic acid or oral supplements).
• Methods used to measure indicators of free radical levels, damage, antioxidants, and development of new mitochondria for cell energy.
• Which indicators are tested for in a particular study, and the timing of testing, can affect the outcomes.

Your specific individual health condition and any medications you're taking may be factors that impact the safety of any exercise regimen. And as always, we recommend you consult with your healthcare provider before starting or taking any nutritional supplements.