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• Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Cautions
Dosing
Integrative
Programs
More
Information

BCCT plans to write a summary on alpha-lipoic acid. While our summary is in development, you can visit About Herbs: Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Before using this therapy, consult your oncology team about interactions with other treatments and therapies. Also make sure this therapy is safe for use with any other medical conditions you may have.

Cautions

Alpha-lipoic acid may cause hypoglycemia that can be compounded if you are on medication that reduces blood sugar. Refer to the About Herbs summary on Alpha-Lipoic Acid for more information.  

Dosing

BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated.

Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:

• Solutions 4 Health: Lung Cancer Wellness Plan
• Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
• Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
• Natural Medicines Database (requires purchase)

Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems

• Programs and protocols
• Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches¹
• Manage inflammation
• Manage insulin resistance
• Kidney cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Berkson protocol: lntravenous alpha-lipoic acid and low-dose naltrexone²
• Block program³
• Terrain support
• Managing oxidation
• Managing inflammation
• Regulating carbohydrate metabolism
• Preventing/reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
• Lemole, Mehta & McKee protocols⁴
• Lung cancer
• McKinney protocols⁵
  • Symptom management
  • D-ALA (intravenous form):
  • Breast cancer
  • Carcinoid tumor
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver/gallbladder cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Stomach cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Uterine cancer
  • R-ALA (oral form)
  • Leukemia

1. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010; Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer: A Five-Step Integrative Plan to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence and Build Lifelong Health. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013.
2. Berkson BM, Rubin DM, Berkson AJ. The long-term survival of a patient with pancreatic cancer with metastases to the liver after treatment with the intravenous alpha-lipoic acid/low-dose naltrexone protocol. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2006 Mar;5(1):83-9; Berkson BM, Calvo Riera F. The long-term survival of a patient with stage IV renal cell carcinoma following an integrative treatment approach including the intravenous α-lipoic acid/low-dose naltrexone protocol. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2017 Dec 1.
3. Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
4. Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
5. McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.

View All References

More Information

• Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre:
  • Patient Resource: Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
  • Health Professional Version: Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
• Gurdev Parmar and Tina Kaczor: Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology
• Barbara MacDonald, ND, LAc: The Breast Cancer Companion: A Complementary Care Manual: Third Edition
• Dwight McKee, MD, editor: Clinical Pearls
• Neil McKinney, BSc, ND: Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition
• Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella: The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
• Therapeutic Research Center: Natural Medicines Database
• Lone Star Medical Group: Natural Alternative Treatments
• ConsumerLab.com