Interview with Nicholas Perricone, MD on aging skin and ALA - alpha lipoic acid - Interview

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Feb-March, 2002 by Lily G. Casura

In the US, one of the leading proponents of ALA is Nicholas V. Perricone, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale Medical School, and a "cosmeceutical" developer with his own line of skincare, who has been granted a number of US and international patents. He's also gained something of a celebrity status with the publication of his book, The Wrinkle Cure.

What is ALA?

ALA is a naturally-occurring substance that our bodies, in fact, produce; though in relatively small amounts. It's also available from potatoes and red meat, among other foods, and today it's also possible to supplement with additional ALA. Like vitamin C, which is soluble in water, and vitamin E, which is fat-soluble, ALA is also an anti-oxidant, one which works with vitamins C and E to increase their effectiveness. In fact, where lipoic acid is deficient, the effectiveness of other antioxidants in the body is compromised.

In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, ALA also performs a number of other vital roles. Research has shown that it helps prevent cataract formation; improves and perhaps even reverses diabetic neuropathy; slows the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease; and appears to stall the progression of HIV to AIDS. As a chelating agent, it also acts to remove heavy metals such as lead and cadmium from the body - so it's liver-protective effects significant as well. It's an important co-factor in glucose metabolism, and shows great promise in treating diabetics. ALA has also been helpful in protecting from radiation damage, and has been used to treat children exposed to radiation from Chernobyl. It improves energy metabolism in the human body, by creating energy at the cellular level (through the mitochondria). It's also anti-inflammatory.

The wonder molecule

How can one substance do so much? Lester Packer, Ph.D., who's studied it, calls it "probably the most potent, naturally-occurring anti-oxidant known to man," and Nicholas Perricone, M.D., calls it a "wonder molecule." In its role as an anti-oxidant, it helps protect the body from damage by free radicals, which have been implicated in any number of diseases, from heart disease to cancer. It's more versatile than vitamin C or E, because it's soluble in both fat and water; and acts synergistically with other anti-oxidants to enhance and preserve their effectiveness.

According to The Prescription for Nutritional Healing, "Lipoic acid is critical in glycolysis and in the Kreb's cycle, two complex biochemical processes essential for the generation of cellular energy. The liver relies on these processes to meet its large energy demands. Lipoic acid is used extensively in Germany to enhance liver function and treat diabetes."

But the skin may be just the area where ALA's benefits really shine (or should we say, glow). "Topical ALA has proven to be a powerful therapeutic agent in the treatment of aging skin," says Dr. Perricone. According to Perricone, ALA protects the skin from redness, such as sunburn, by protecting from UV radiation, and soothes irritated skin. It also helps resolve scarring and minimize the appearance of facial lines, perhaps by better enabling collagen to restore and repair itself. Because of its powerful anti-oxidant properties, it's able to repair cell membranes (which get damaged by free radicals). And its antiinflammatory properties are helpful to minimize the effects of aging on skin as well. Because its versatility as an anti-oxidant allows it to be quickly absorbed into the skin and penetrate all areas of the cell, it maximizes the cell's ability to defend itself against damage from free radicals.