It's unbelievable but true nonetheless that alpha lipoic acid was discovered way back in the 1950's.

Most people interested in health supplements and antioxidants have only heard about it in recent years.

This is simply because back in the 1950's we didn't realize just how varied its functions and health benefits were, which is why it's become such a popular nutritional supplement in the last decade.

One thing we now know is that alpha lipoic acid is a powerful and unique antioxidant. Antioxidants as many of us know help counter the damage created by free radicals in the body.

Free radical damage has been implicated in many degenerative diseases afflicting people in the Western world.

For people serious about improving their health with nutritional supplements, alpha lipoic acid antioxidant should be a strong consideration to one's supplement regimen.

One reason to consider its possible inclusion is because our bodies only produce it in very insignificant amounts and it's hard to get enough of from the foods we eat if we want therapeutic and medicinal levels.

Just How Important is It?

Alpha lipoic acid impacts almost all of our body's cells. Other than its role as an antioxidant it also plays a pivotal role in helping the B vitamins convert the components of food -- namely carbs, protein, and fats -- into stored energy....which we use later as needed.

Even when we think about antioxidants, we tend to think of such vitamins as C and E because that's what the media always talks about.

And it is true that Vitamins C and E are good antioxidants. But what you probably didn't know was that alpha lipoic acid can help "recycle" these vitamins in the body.

What this means is that we can get more use and potency out of the Vitamin C and E in our bodies if we have alpha lipoic acid antioxidant present too.

Another characteristic that makes alpha lipoic acid unique is that it has properties that make it readily absorbable by most of the tissues in the body. Many vitamins and such are fat soluble or water soluble and therefore cannot pass thru many barriers.

For instances, lipoic acid can be absorbed by tissues of the brain, the liver, the nerves, and more.

And it is precisely this ability that has launched alpha lipoic acid in the spotlight as a hopeful candidate to mitigate a range of some of the most serious and widespread health conditions the Western world faces, such as diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

In some studies, alpha lipoic acid antioxidant has been used to treat nerve damage, such as diabetic neuropathy. It is also being studied for a potential ability to help diabetics respond better to insulin.

With respect to liver health, its potent antioxidant properties may help guard the liver against injury from roaming free radicals. As you may know, the liver plays a crucial function in ridding our bodies of toxins.

Because of its possible role in promoting liver health, alpha lipoic acid antioxidant is sometimes used for liver ailments, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.

Interestingly, it may also play a role in eye health as well, helping to ward off cataracts.

To be sure, it will be exciting to see what future studies hold for this unique antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid.