The Best Evidence Yet that Alpha Lipoic Acid Lowers Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a common and serious health concern. Managing it can have a large impact on health. This new meta-analysis shows that one exciting way to help manage it is alpha lipoic acid.
High blood pressure is a big problem. It is projected that by 2025, it will affect over a billion people. That’s a lot considering high blood pressure can lead to heart failure, stroke and heart attack as well as kidney disease, cognitive impairment and dementia.
Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that can quench both fat and water soluble free radicals. It’s ability to improve cholesterol has been established by a recent meta-analysis (Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2023 Aug;93(4):352-361). It may also help high blood pressure by reducing inflammation and blood clotting, increasing vasodilation and aiding in weight loss.
This new meta-analysis of 11 controlled studies that included 674 people found that alpha lipoic acid significantly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The alpha lipoic acid reduced systolic pressure by 5.46 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by 3.36 mm Hg, meaning that the improvement was not only statistically significant but, clearly, clinically significant. Alpha lipoic acid may have been especially beneficial to people who were overweight.
Blood pressure can be improved by several lifestyle improvements, including a diet low in saturated fats, rich in fruits and vegetables, low in salt (JAMA. online November 11, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.23651) and high in potassium. This important new meta-analysis concludes that supplementing alpha lipoic acid can also significantly help.
Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1272837.
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