ALA is worthless for the non-obese

[Sigmund Roid]

If you are not fat and have a normal insulin sensitivity, then r-ALA does not do a thing for you. See the link:

http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/92/1/50

I cite a part:

In summary, we have provided new evidence that, in contrast to the insulin-resistant obese Zucker rat (31), chronic administration of the water-soluble antioxidant R-ALA to the insulin-sensitive lean Zucker rat does not enhance insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in skeletal muscle. Moreover, again in contrast to our findings with the obese Zucker rat (31), we could find no evidence that the combination treatment of lean Zucker rats with exercise training and R-ALA could beneficially modify either maximal running performance or skeletal muscle glucose transport activity relative to endurance exercise training alone. Taken together, these results indicate that the positive interaction between endurance exercise training and antioxidant treatment with R-ALA for skeletal muscle insulin action is restricted to conditions of insulin resistance and is not seen in insulin-sensitive muscle.

Thank you for pointing that out, writer of www.ergogenics.org.

I hope that finally the r-ALA hype started by the sellers who are very active on the boards (for some reason even the steroid boards as if ALA is a steroid), will discontinue now, and that people save their money for something that DOES work. I still think it is allright to use ALA during DNP or GH cycles, but not for anything else, maybe except for the liver protective properties.

 

[macrophage69alpha]

1. this is not a new study
2. all the study found was that the addition of r-ala AT THE TIME OF EXERCISE was not beneficial to further lowering of blood glucose (big suprise..)
3. most americans have at least some insulin sensitivity issues and at least 30% are insulin resistant (as defined medically)
4. steroids, as you so amusingly point out, alter insulin sensitivity-- often negatively.

thanks for playing

 

[scout420]

I've used Ala in the past and am on it now.i just started it again but I can tell you one thing I saw good results.And I tested it out I'd take 900 mg eat a high carb meal and afterwards I would not be hungr, i'll take up to 1200mg at a time personaly...

 

[geoboy]

.

 

[Paulos]

1. this is not a new study
2. all the study found was that the addition of r-ala AT THE TIME OF EXERCISE was not beneficial to further lowering of blood glucose (big suprise..)
3. most americans have at least some insulin sensitivity issues and at least 30% are insulin resistant (as defined medically)
4. steroids, as you so amusingly point out, alter insulin sensitivity-- often negatively.

thanks for playing

OWNED MPAlpha

6/9/03

 

[Addicted]

Now burgers affect insulin? Oh, snap

 

[NapoleanComplex]

Yeah, I've had a good experience w/ r-ala, except for the dent in my wallet. I think I read somewhere that the same effect can be had by taking 3x the amount of plain ALA. I checked it out, and in some stores, it is cheaper to go the ALA route.

 

[Ulter]

Scout, Regular ALA RAISES your insulin levels. R-ALA LOWERS your insuling levels. You can not get the benefits of the R from racemic because the S gets in the way. But you know that already.

Am J Physiol. 1997 Jul;273(1 Pt 1):E185-91.

Differential effects of lipoic acid stereoisomers on glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle.

Streeper RS, Henriksen EJ, Jacob S, Hokama JY, Fogt DL, Tritschler HJ.

Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721-0093, USA.

The racemic mixture of the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) enhances insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant humans and animals. We determined the individual effects of the pure R-(+) and S-(-) enantiomers of ALA on glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle of an animal model of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia: the obese Zucker (fa/fa) rat. Obese rats were treated intraperitoneally acutely (100 mg/kg body wt for 1 h) or chronically [10 days with 30 mg/kg of R-(+)-ALA or 50 mg/kg of S-(-)-ALA]. Glucose transport [2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake], glycogen synthesis, and glucose oxidation were determined in the epitrochlearis muscles in the absence or presence of insulin (13.3 nM). Acutely, R-(+)-ALA increased insulin-mediated 2-DG-uptake by 64% (P < 0.05), whereas S-(-)-ALA had no significant effect. Although chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment significantly reduced plasma insulin (17%) and free fatty acids (FFA; 35%) relative to vehicle-treated obese animals, S-(-)-ALA treatment further increased insulin (15%) and had no effect on FFA. Insulin-stimulated 2-DG uptake was increased by 65% by chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment, whereas S-(-)-ALA administration resulted in only a 29% improvement. Chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment elicited a 26% increase in insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis and a 33% enhancement of insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation. No significant increase in these parameters was observed after S-(-)-ALA treatment. Glucose transporter (GLUT-4) protein was unchanged after chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment but was reduced to 81 +/- 6% of obese control with S-(-)-ALA treatment. Therefore, chronic parenteral treatment with the antioxidant ALA enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport and non-oxidative and oxidative glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle, with the R-(+) enantiomer being much more effective than the S-(-) enantiomer.


Siggy, You're way behind the curve on this one bro.

Do you think this fellow thinks he wasted his money as you put it?

Spunky
Pro Bodybuilder



Registered: Jun 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 1430
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My Glucorell-R experiment! (post #1)

I am the type of guy that gains weight very easily! If I pig out one day I will see atleast a 5-6lb difference on the scales the next day.. I've always been this way! I got my glucorell-R in Wednesday... I ate like it was nobody business.... Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!! I used 300mg Glucorell-R everytime I ate. Its Saturday morning... I just weighed myself.. I am down 1lb!!!! LOL!!!!!!! Thats completely INSANE!!!! I ate chinese food, hamburgers, and ice cream... this is a good supplement! I am recommending it to everyone and as soon as I get paid again I am ordering atleast 3 more bottles along with some Biotin!


AS trashes your insulin sensivity. If you are cycling you HAVE to be using Glucorell R to keep the fat off.



: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1981 Nov;53(5):905-8. Related Articles, Links


Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in aplastic anemia treated with oxymetholone.

Woodard TL, Burghen GA, Kitabchi AE, Wilimas JA.

Because of a suspected association between the drug oxymetholone and abnormal glucose metabolism, we determined immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and plasma glucose during oral glucose tolerance testing in seven patients with aplastic anemia, six of whom received oxymetholone therapy. All patients receiving oxymetholone therapy had abnormal glucose and/or IRI values. This finding was independent of GH, cortisol, and glucagon. In one patient, glucose and IRI levels were normal before oxymetholone but became abnormally elevated after the use of this drug. Furthermore, normal glucose and IRI values were present in the single patient not receiving oxymetholone. Thus, a positive relationship was demonstrated between oxymetholone administration and the presence of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.


J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1987 May;64(5):960-3.

Insulin resistance and diminished glucose tolerance in powerlifters ingesting anabolic steroids.

Cohen JC, Hickman R.

To examine the effects of anabolic steroid use on glucose homeostasis, we determined oral glucose tolerance and serum insulin response to glucose in 15 male powerlifters, 6 obese men, and 10 sedentary nonobese men. Eight of the powerlifters had self-administered large doses (200 mg/day) of anabolic steroids for periods of up to 7 yr, whereas 7 had never used anabolic steroids. Powerlifters who ingested anabolic steroids had diminished glucose tolerance compared to the nonsteroid-using group, despite having substantially higher postglucose serum insulin concentrations. Postglucose insulin responses were also higher in steroid users than in the sedentary nonobese and sedentary obese reference groups. These results indicate that powerlifters who ingest anabolic steroids have diminished glucose tolerance, which is likely to be secondary to insulin resistance.

.

 

[newpump]

That "r-ALA doesn't work post" sounds like the late 80's early 90's "steroids haven't been proven to work" BS (for the older among us that remember that CRAP we were fed about steroids not really doing anything ROFL). We have many people (including me!) who use r-ALA (I'm NOT obese BTW) and can actually measure the results (same diet/same amount of cardio MORE weight loss) when taking r-ALA right before every meal. It works, its not hype, end of story (and NO I am NOT on anyone's "payroll" - I just tell it like it is).

 

[drrman]

well, i like my r-ala