Today we return to Examine.com for a summary of a meta-analysis looking at alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and its effects on sperm in men with infertility.
As they did not explain what alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is or what it does in the body, here’s a short breakdown.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in every cell of the human body, where its primary role is to help convert blood sugar (glucose) into energy through a process called aerobic metabolism. In other words, if you’ve been fooled to consume carbohydrates and raise your blood glucose above normal levels, you will use up a lot more ALA than what is normal when you run on your natural fat metabolism and only manufacture the glucose that you need.
ALA also acts as a cofactor for several enzymes, including those involved in the citric acid cycle, which is crucial for energy production.
ALA is also an antioxidant, helping to protect cells against damage caused by free radicals, which are harmful byproducts of oxidation. Again, free radicals increase multifold when you consume carbohydrates and they are converted into glucose that the body has to remove from your bloodstream to limit the damage to soft tissues, blood vessels and organs. So, once again, if you consume the wrong kind of food, as in carbohydrates, more ALA is needed.
This antioxidant property has been linked to various health benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels, reduced inflammation, and improved nerve function. Additionally, ALA has been studied for its potential role in managing conditions like diabetic neuropathy and mitochondrial disorders, although the evidence remains mixed.
The body obtains alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) through both endogenous synthesis and dietary intake. ALA is naturally produced in the body, primarily in the mitochondria. However, the amounts produced are not sufficient to meet the body’s energy requirements if you consume the wrong kind of foods, as in carbohydrates, necessitating additional intake through diet.
It is important to note that ALA exists in two enantiomeric forms: R-ALA and S-ALA. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is present in animal sources in its naturally occurring and fully bioavailable form, a mixture of R-ALA and S-ALA with a clear dominance of the R-enantiomer. ALA in plant sources is predominantly present as the R-enantiomer and covalently bound to lysine residues in proteins, referred to as lipoyllysine with a bioavailability of only about 20–30%. The bioavailability of chemically manufactured alpha-lipoic acid from supplements is around 30-40%, surpassing that of plant-based sources.
Red meats such as beef, as well as organ meats like heart, kidney, and liver, are among the highest sources of ALA and also fully bioavailable. Plant-based sources such as spinach, broccoli, yams, and sweet potatoes contain ALA, though in much smaller amounts compared to animal sources and only 20–30% of it can be absorbed, converted and used by the body, making plant-based sources virtually useless (as always.)
Key study details
“The participants took either 600 milligrams of ALA or a placebo daily for 2 to 3 months.
Compared to the placebo, ALA increased total sperm motility (the amount of sperm that move) by 13.5% and progressive motility (the amount of sperm that move directionally, such as a straight line or large circles) by 12.4%. Moreover, it improved sperm morphology by 0.9% (i.e., it reduced the amount of sperm with an abnormal shape).”
600 milligrams of ALA from supplements will yield about 210 milligrams of usable ALA within the body, which is quite a lot.
For example, beef contains about 3 mcg ALA per gram. So, 0.5 kg of beef (about 1 lb.) contains 1.5 milligrams of ALA. And that should tell us how little we actually need from food sources when we follow our species-appropriate, species-specific human diet and only consume animal-based foods and being fat adapted and in ketosis. Remember, the human body produces ALA and the only factor that really increases the demand for ALA is carbohydrate metabolism and a lot of oxidative stress damage from free radicals.
So, the improvement in sperm quality likely comes from less oxidative stress from free radicals from following a very bad and inappropriate diet.
“However, there were no changes in pregnancy rates, sperm concentration, ejaculation volume, sperm count, or total antioxidant capacity.”
Of course not, as oxidative stress only damages fatty acids/tissue, cells, and proteins in the body. So, in that regard additional ALA might lessen the damage to the sperm. However, sperm count, concentration, and ejaculation volume comes down to hormonal status and overall health (combination of stress, diet, toxic exposure, sleep quality, etc.)
Examine.com’s take
“ALA appears to improve sperm motility and morphology in men with infertility. However, because it had no effect on pregnancy rates and was studied in only a few trials, it remains uncertain whether it has a clinically meaningful effect.”
Agreed. However, asking whether ALA can help with infertility or not is the wrong question. It’s the wrong approach. Instead ask what is causing infertility and how do we remove that underlying cause, that damage to the body?
It’s quite obvious that it is the diet and the lifestyle, as in not getting enough essential nutrients for proper hormone function, detoxification and healing, while the toxic load is so high that the body is taking more damage than it can handle, the sperm included.
There will never be a supplement or drug that can substitute changes in diet and lifestyle. These are only temporary and idiotic band aids. The only way to be healthy is to remove what is causing damage, as in inappropriate foods and other obvious toxic sources. Remove all plant-based and processed foods, all beauty- and self-care products, all plastics, and so on.
Transition to our species-specific and natural diet, and your body will be nourished and without any toxic load at all. That is the only way to heal and obtain maximum health, including fertility.
If you need help with any kind of health problems or transitioning from your current way of eating to our natural species-appropriate, species-specific way of eating, I’m available for both coaching and consultation.
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