Lipoic Acid improves insulin resistance in both pre-fat and muscle cells.

A published study on a recently discovered gene, NYGGF4, found in fat cells, when over-active, induces insulin resistance and reduces mitochondria mass and its DNA, is also associated with excessive free radicals.

This study suggests that pre-treatment with Alpha Lipoic Acid "strikingly enhanced" absorption of glucose by fat cells (3T3L-1) with over-active NYGGF4, with an improvement in insulin resistance in these cells.

A number of studies have suggested Lipoic Acid's beneficial role in diabetes related complications and this study points to its beneficial role for improving insulin resistance in fat cells (3T3L-1) through increasing a biological signalling pathway (Akt).

The cell line 3T3L-1 is pre-adipogenic (fat), to which under hormonal or cellular redox imbalance transforms to fat cells, storing triglycerides.

Other studies have shown that Alpha Lipoic Acid activates the insulin signaling pathway, not only in adipose (fat) cells but also in muscle cells, and that its application opposes unnecessary formation of 3T3-L1 (pre-fat cells).

Treatment of 3T3-L1 with Alpha Lipoic Acid has opposed both insulin or the hormonal mixture-induced formation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes by modulating the MAPK pathway. (1)

MAPK/Akt pathways, where Lipoic Acid has shown promising results, are biological pathways that promote acceptance of glucose by the cells.

1. Sept 12, 2003. J. of Biol Chem, 278, 34823-34833