ALA

[efgh]

Chemar

 

Alpha Lipoic Acid or ALA is a phenomenal supplement and has numerous benefits!

However, by virtue of the fact that it DOES cross the blood brain barrier and DOES mop up heavy metals, GL&L mom is, IMO, correctly cautious in not giving it to her son UNTIL she has first successfully cleared the other parts of his body of the heavy metals.

The theory behind this caution is that, because the heavy metals bind to the ALA, it could carry those that have bound to it from the other parts of the body (IE peripherally) and then take those INTO THE BRAIN when it crosses the blood brain barrier

 

Chemar, can you please clarify to me on this if the ALA that you are talking about is the ALA that is found in flax oil. Because I have been giving flax oil for a long time, I am a bit concerned twhen I read that we should be cautious in giving that UNTIL we clear the other parts of the body of heavy metals.

 

Please read this from DR mercola website

Linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid ALA and their long-chain derivatives are important components of animal and plant cell membranes. When you eat fish or fish oil, the EPA and DHA partially replace the omega-6 fats especially arachidonic acid in cell membranes.

ALA, found in flax seed is the precursor of omega-3 fats, can be converted to long-chain omega-3 fats and can therefore be substituted for fish oils.

 

However, ALA is not equivalent in its biological effects to the long-chain omega-3 fats found in marine oils. EPA and DHA are more rapidly incorporated into plasma and membrane lipids and produce more rapid effects than does ALA.

 

Experimental studies suggest that intake of 3-4 grams of ALA per day is equivalent to 0.3 grams (300 mg) EPA per day.

 

Relatively large reserves of LA in body fat, as are found in vegans or in the diet of omnivores in Western societies, would tend to slow down the formation of long-chain omega-3 fats like EPA and DHA from ALA.

 

One advantage of the consumption of ALA over omega-3 fats from fish is that the problem of insufficient vitamin E intake does not exist with high intake of ALA from plant sources.

 

SORRY FOR MY IGNORANCE AND WOULD APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION IF ALPHA LIPOIC ACID IS THE SAME AS ALPHA LINOLINIC ACID...

[Chemar]

Dont worry efgh.....

aloha lipoic acid and alpha linolenic acid are NOT the same thing, and you are doing a GOOD THING by using the latter now for your son

 

remember...anytime you are confused on the similar sounding supps....a great place to get info is at iHerb http://www.iherb.com/