Alpha Lipoic Acid: Boost Fertility & IVF Success with This Antioxidant
Be honest, how much do you know about Alpha Lipoic Acid? It may not be one of the first nutrients you think of when it comes to reproductive health, but this lesser-known antioxidant packs a punch and those in the know about fertility nutrition are big fans.
At arxi HQ we like to call Alpha Lipoic Acid our team player, she’s like that really helpful colleague who knows about everything and always has the time to help you with your work questions. Without any behind your back eye rolls. Alpha Lipoic Acid is the epitome of the kind and generous, ever-available team player of your dreams!
Let’s break down everything you need to know about Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), why it is important for female fertility, and how it could help improve IVF outcomes.
What is Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)?
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell of your body. It’s like the multitasking champion of antioxidants - helping your cells produce energy, and at the same time, protecting them from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Unlike many other antioxidants, ALA is both fat- and water-soluble, meaning it can work its magic throughout your entire body.
And here’s the cool part: ALA doesn’t just fight off free radicals on its own. It also helps regenerate other antioxidants, like vitamin C and vitamin E, giving them a little nudge to keep working harder for you. We told you she’s a team player!
At arxi, we’ve taken advantage of this mutual antioxidant friendship and combined ALA, vitamins C and E in our preconception and reproductive health formula, OvaGold.
How Does Alpha Lipoic Acid Help Female Fertility?
Egg quality is front and centre when it comes to fertility health - yes, we know there is SO much focus on “how many eggs you have left” but let’s spare a thought (or more) for the quality, please!
For women and people with ovaries, the quality of your eggs plays a massive role in your chances of conceiving. Unfortunately, as we age, egg quality declines. We are born with all the eggs we will ever have, and so by the time we want to use one (or more), they’ve kinda lived a LOT already - thanks in part to oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is the term we use to describe the ‘wear and tear’ that our eggs are subject to from the environment (i.e. pollution, environmental toxins), dietary factors like trans fats, our love of margaritas (we are human, after all), and sometimes things we can’t totally control like autoimmune or other medical conditions that result in chronic inflammation.
This is where ALA steps in. Aren’t we glad to see it!
ALA is a powerful antioxidant that works to reduce oxidative stress in the body, protecting cells (including eggs) from damage.
Research shows that oxidative stress can impact ovarian function, egg health, and even embryo quality, especially for those over 35 (cos, longer time to accumulate oxidative stress, and longer time to wear down our defenses) (Agarwal et al., 2005).
Alpha Lipoic Acid Benefits for IVF Success
The journey through IVF can be emotionally and physically demanding (not to mention the financial outlay, sheesh) so it’s blindingly obvious that we want to do all of the things to improve your chances of success.
Research suggests that taking ALA may improve ovarian response and embryo quality in those undergoing IVF treatment (Kim et al., 2017).
By reducing oxidative stress and supporting egg health, ALA can help give your body a better chance of producing high-quality eggs that are ready for fertilisation. This is one of the key reasons why we made OvaGold, to offer targeted support for IVF preparation.
Does Alpha Lipoic Acid Help to Support Egg Quality?
ALA understands your eggs are precious cargo and knows how to keep them safe. After all, she’s our cooperative team player after all!
Alpha Lipoic Acid is particularly helpful when it comes to supporting egg quality, especially when addressing the inevitable age-related decline in fertility. It’s not just those skin cells that need an extra hydrating mask and layers of sunscreen (that you maybe weren’t thinking about when you were 21 either, huh?).
As your eggs become more vulnerable to oxidative damage, this can lower their chances of successfully developing into healthy embryos. ALA helps to neutralise oxidative stress and also to support cell mitochondrial function (this is how your cells produce energy).
In simple terms, ALA helps your eggs stay healthier, longer - optimising your chances of conception, whether naturally or through fertility treatments like IVF.
What Foods are Sources of Alpha Lipoic Acid?
ALA is found in both animal and plant derived foods including:
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Brussel sprouts
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Organ meats
However, it’s super important to note that our body can only obtain relatively small amounts of ALA from food sources versus what can be taken in a supplement. Supplements can contain up to 1000 times more ALA than what could reasonably obtained from your regular foods (so nope - it ain’t very easy to replicate the supplement effects).
How to Use Alpha Lipoic Acid for Fertility
If you’re thinking about adding ALA to your fertility routine, it’s important to choose a high-quality supplement.
At arxi, we’ve formulated OvaGold to include Alpha Lipoic Acid at the therapeutic dosage of 400 mg per day alongside other key nutrients including coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide riboside (the precursor to NAD+). Oh, and not to mention, we’ve got ALA’s favourite coworkers inside OvaGold too - vitamin E and vitamin C!
Our mission? To bring you the most powerful, science-backed reproductive health supplements, but streamlined so you *actually take them* - OvaGold is just 2 capsules per day! No more intimidating handful of supplements that make you rattle when you walk.
For optimal results, we recommend starting ALA during what we like to call the prepconception phase i.e. the 3 months before conception or as part of your preparations.
Best Ways to Use Alpha Lipoic Acid for Fertility and IVF
You may have seen ALA floating around in other products before but stop, wait a minute. Is this actually enough to be consistent with the latest fertility research?
Preconception and reproductive health is our passion and so we have carefully formulated OvaGold to include 200 mg ALA per capsule for a total of 400 mg per day. This dosage reflects research looking at ALA for egg health and optimising egg development in IVF preparation.
Don’t forget about the dream team vibes that ALA brings when you invite vitamins C and E to the party too. These nutrients have synergy - ALA helps to regenerate both vitamin C and E . Exactly why, you’ll find this compatible trio inside OvaGold, cheering on each other and your reproductive health.
Is the Alpha Lipoic Acid in OvaGold the same as Lipoec?
This part of the article is for our Australia-based fans, who may be taking, or have heard about, a lipoic acid supplement called Lipoec.
Alpha Lipoic Acid found in OvaGold is the same ingredient found in Lipoec. The name ‘Lipoec’ is a product name, not the name of the ingredient in the product. There’s no difference between the ingredient alpha lipoic acid that is found in Lipoec and and the ingredient alpha lipoic acid that is found in OvaGold.
Is Alpha Lipoic Acid Safe When Trying to Conceive or Undergoing IVF?
If you’re wondering whether Alpha Lipoic Acid is safe to use while trying to conceive or during IVF preparation, the short answer is yes.
ALA is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, but it's always a good idea to check with your doctor for individual advice especially if you are undergoing a series of fertility treatments.
Is Alpha Lipoic Acid Safe for Pregnancy?
Alpha Lipoic Acid is considered safe to use in pregnancy.
Research has evaluated groups of pregnant women who used ALA for a period of time in their pregnancy and it showed that dosages up to 600 mg for up to 7 weeks showed no adverse effects (Parente et al., 2017). Some preliminary research highlights the potential benefits of supplementing ALA in certain pregnancy complications, however, more research is definitely needed (Petca et al., 2021).
We recommend discontinuing the use of Alpha Lipoic Acid once pregnancy is confirmed, of course, consult your health care provider for individualised advice.
You can also contact your local state or territory’s medication safety phone careline where you can talk to a nurse, midwife or doctor about any of your medication or supplement safety questions, completely free of charge.
Heads up, OvaGold is not recommended for use in pregnancy or lactation. After all, the job of helping support your preconception health is done at this stage!
Final Thoughts on Alpha Lipoic Acid for Fertility
Alpha Lipoic Acid is definitely a supplement to consider if you’re looking to protect your egg health and improve your chances of success with IVF. With its powerful antioxidant properties and ability to support energy production inside our cells, ALA has got the credentials.
Ready to nail your prepconception with Alpha Lipoic Acid and the rest of your preconception nutrient dream team? Learn more about OvaGold today!
References
Agarwal A, Gupta S, Sharma RK. Role of oxidative stress in female reproduction. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E. 2005;3:28.
Di Tucci C, Di Feliciantonio M, Vena F, Capone C, Schiavi MC, Pietrangeli D, et al. Alpha lipoic acid in obstetrics and gynecology. Gynecological Endocrinology. 2018 Sep 2;34(9):729–33.
Di Tucci C, Galati G, Mattei G, Bonanni V, Capri O, D’Amelio R, et al. The role of alpha lipoic acid in female and male infertility: a systematic review. Gynecological Endocrinology. 2021 Jun 3;37(6):497–505.
Kim C, Moon J, Jeung Y, Kim S, Chae H, Kang B. Lipoic acid supplementation increases the expression of pgc-1alpha gene in granulosa cells and improves IVF results in aging women undergoing IVF. Fertility and Sterility. 2017 Sep 1;108(3):e228.
Lee, J. S., Park, J. M., & Kim, J. Y. (2012). The effects of antioxidant supplements on the outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques in subfertile women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Update, 18(5), 495-503.
Novielli C, Anelli GM, Lisso F, Marzorati A, Parrilla B, Oneta M, et al. Effects of α-lipoic acid and myo-inositol supplementation on the oocyte environment of infertile obese women: A preliminary study. Reproductive Biology. 2020 Dec 1;20(4):541–6.
Parente E, Colannino G, Picconi O, Monastra G. Safety of oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment in pregnant women: a retrospective observational study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2017 Sep;21(18):4219–27.
Petca A, Bot M, Maru N, Calo IG, Borislavschi A, Dumitrascu MC, et al. Benefits of α-lipoic acid in high-risk pregnancies (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Nov;22(5):1232.
Salehi B, Berkay Yılmaz Y, Antika G, Boyunegmez Tumer T, Fawzi Mahomoodally M, Lobine D, et al. Insights on the Use of α-Lipoic Acid for Therapeutic Purposes. Biomolecules. 2019 Aug 9;9(8):356.
