Alpha-lipoic acid: from pharmacological properties to clinical application

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) (1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid), also known as lipoic acid, thioctic acid, «vitamin N», is an integral part of the body’s cells; in the body that is utilized in aerobic metabolism to produce energy. The use of аlpha-lipoic acid in medical practice is associated with the oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation as a fairly universal pathogenic mechanism of cell and tissue damage. This review examined the biochemical characteristics, pharmacological properties of аlpha-lipoic acid and the results of clinical use in therapeutic practice.anti-ischemic effect in target organs, thus ensuring a better quality of life.