Alpha Lipoic Acid Promotes Healthy Pregnancy
Alpha lipoic acid can improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby. Research shows that alpha lipoic acid can preserve and potentially restore fertility. It also counteracts known reasons for miscarriage or infertility in women, including: (ii.38, 154, 171-175)
- Exposure to toxic, and even commonplace, chemicals that might affect fertility and cause birth defects (as well as continued health problems in children). (ii.171-173, 176)
- Premature birth linked to getting the flu while pregnant. (ii.174)
- Chronic conditions that affect reproductive hormone levels, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). (ii.38)
- Chemotherapy or radiation that causes infertility. (ii.175)
It can even improve outcomes in unknown causes of bleeding, or spotting, in pregnancy. (ii.154)
Alpha Lipoic Acid to the Rescue?
Fertility problems and potential fetal effects caused by chronic conditions or cancer treatment can be addressed and even planned for. However, some dangers to your health and that of your future children are invisible. Other than avoiding direct exposure to infected people or chemical toxins, is there anything you can realistically do to prevent or protect yourself? Researchers say that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supplements such as alpha lipoic acid may help reduce the impact from both known and unseen risks.(ii.38, 174)
Examples of alpha lipoic acid's protective activity include:
| Toxin or Disease | Alpha Lipoic Acid Effect |
|---|---|
Bisphenol-A (BPA) |
BPA is a common chemical found in consumer product packaging and plastics. It disrupts reproductive hormones. BPA exposure has been linked to lower fertility and premature birth. (ii.173) Animal studies show that alpha lipoic acid can prevent damage to ovaries from this chemical commonly found in plastics. (ii.176) |
Chemotherapy drugs |
Chemotherapy and radiation can reduce fertility. Some chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin, can also cause DNA damage in fetuses. (ii.178) In an animal study, alpha lipoic acid protected the offspring of pregnant rats exposed to chemotherapy from DNA damage. (ii.178) Lab studies suggest that alpha lipoic acid can help better preserve ovarian tissue prior to chemotherapy or radiation. This tissue may help restore fertility following treatment. (ii.175) |
Diabetes |
Diabetes increases free radical levels. These may increase the risk of birth defects or retard the growth of fetuses. (ii.179) Animal studies show that lipoic acid significantly reduced incidence of fetal abnormalities linked to maternal diabetes. (ii.179) |
Dioxin |
Dioxin is known to cause birth defects, hormonal changes, and long-term, inter-generational health effects. Animal studies suggest alpha lipoic acid can help protect fetuses from the dangerous effects of this environmental toxin. (ii.176, 180) |
|
Influenza (bird flu and seasonal flu) |
The flu virus triggers inflammatory proteins that increase production of various enzymes. Their enzyme activities could directly and indirectly break down cells in the amniotic sac surrounding a growing fetus. This can weaken membrane tissue and may cause premature delivery. (ii.174) Research indicates alpha lipoic acid can reduce the inflammatory factors and enzymes stimulated by viruses. (ii.174) |
|
Endometriosis |
A hormone-dependent disorder, endometriosis is linked to sub-fertility and infertility. (ii.181) Lab and animal studies suggest that combining alpha lipoic acid with N-acetyl cysteine and bromelain could help reduce the number and size of cysts caused by endometriosis. (ii.181) |
|
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 
|
In an open clinical study, 6 non-diabetic lean adult females with PCOS were given 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid twice a day for 16 weeks. Alpha lipoic acid helped increase the number of normal menstrual cycles in women with PCOS not on contraception. (ii.38) Alpha lipoic acid helped normalize ovaries and menstruation in another study involving 25 patients with PCOS. Patients took 600 mg/day for 3 months. The alpha lipoic acid also significantly reduced insulin resistance, which is thought to negatively affect fertility. (ii.182) Alpha lipoic acid may also help improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with PCOS. In a pilot study, those patients given alpha lipoic acid along with myo-inositol supplements produced better quality embryos. In addition, the pregnancy rate trended higher for those who took alpha lipoic acid compared to those who took only myo-inositol. (ii.183) |
|
Subchorionic hematoma
|
Subchorionic hematoma is bleeding in the membranes of the amniotic sac surrounding an embryo or fetus. It can cause vaginal bleeding and is linked to higher rates of miscarriage. (ii.154, 184) Results from a clinical trial suggest alpha lipoic acid could help reduce this higher risk of miscarriage. The study involved 19 pregnant women with subchorionic hematoma and vaginal bleeding and/or pelvic pain. They were given 300 mg of alpha lipoic acid twice a day, combined with progesterone cream. Alpha lipoic acid helped absorb the blood clot in the amniotic sac membrane faster than progesterone alone. (ii.154) |