The role of alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is produced naturally in human organism. It plays an crucial role in lipid metabolism. It is also a cofactor of enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism. Recently, it has been shown that ALA supplementation might affect the lipid profile by influencing lipid metabolism. However, these findings remain controversial. The probable lipid-lowering mechanism might be explained by beneficial effects of ALA on mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase.