We human beings seem to like to label things – the simpler, the better! This urge to put everything into simple categories definitely applies to drugs and supplements – we like to think that Drug A always has one particular effect, and Supplement B has a different one. Just take this pill or use this crème and, voila, you always get one simple outcome.

That may be tidy, but it’s seldom accurate. In the real world, the drugs and supplements we take usually refuse to cooperate with this fantasy. Instead, one compound can have many effects – and many compounds can have similar effects. Often none of these interactions seem to correlate very well to the labels we put on them.

Take alpha lipoic acid for example. Alpha lipoic acid, sometimes called ALA, is a fatty acid found naturally inside every cell in the body. It’s needed by the body to produce the energy for our body’s normal functions. Alpha lipoic acid converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy. At Longevity Medical Clinic, we often give our patients alpha lipoic acid, most commonly to combat neuropathy in diabetics (or in patients who may not yet have diabetes but who have developed enough insulin resistance to experience neuropathy). So, because that is ALA’s primary use, does that make alpha lipoic acid simply a neuropathy supplement? Let’s look a bit closer at the rest of the story.

• ALA and Cancer: There are now many studies that clearly demonstrate that, when administered to breast cancer patients, alpha lipoic acid kills a significant number of breast cancer cells and slows the growth of others. When combined with a citric acid derivative called hydroxycitrate, ALA greatly enhances the effectiveness of breast cancer chemotherapy. What’s more, some studies show that ALA can inhibit the type of enzyme activity in our bodies that leads to the development of breast and prostate cancer in the first place.

• ALA and polycystic ovarian syndrome: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common endocrine disorder affecting up to 10% of women of childbearing age. In a study of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, ALA was found to have a host of beneficial effects, leading to better cholesterol profiles, improved blood sugars and healthier insulin levels. Alpha lipoc acid also significantly increased the number of normal periods in many test subjects.

• General healing: Alpha lipoic acid helps to improve blood flow in small blood vessels – an important component of normal healing. ALA has been repeatedly shown to improve healing in wounds of virtually every kind, from minor skin cuts to surgical incisions.

• Healthy skin: Alpha lipoic acid promotes the growth of connective tissue and provides smoother, younger looking skin.

So what do we make of alpha lipoic acid? We know it helps fight neuropathy. But is it also a cosmetic enhancer? Is it an anti-cancer drug? Is ALA a supplement to restore hormone balance? Is it an all-purpose nostrum that cures whatever ails you? If we are going to use supplements intelligently, we need to avoid thinking in terms of labels. Instead we need to learn the biochemistry and understand the physiology of the compounds we take. That level of knowledge is what makes your Longevity Medical Clinic doctor a far better adviser for all your supplement needs and applications than the clerk at the health food store or the multi-level marketing company your Aunt Matilda represents. Don’t trust yourself to amateurs, and don’t settle for simple labels that don’t tell the whole story! Trust your medical support team at Longevity Medical Clinic to watch out for your best interests and to give you the real scoop on drugs and supplements.