McCain's Dietary Supplement Safety Act Dead!

Last week we were preparing to send you information urging you to contact your representatives about McCain's Dietary Supplements Safety Act. The proposed legislation would have left the entire supplements industry vulnerable to unnecessary FDA regulation.

Fortunately, over the weekend we received news that the proposed legislation is "dead." So many supplement fans wrote to Congress with their concerns that McCain withdrew support from his own bill. The Alliance for Natural Health published the details Friday. Hurray!

Linus Pauling Institute: Insulin Sensitivity & Alpha Lipoic Acid

A recent newsletter from The Linus Pauling Institute had all sorts of juicy research findings for health and supplement lovers. Here are a few highlights:

Exercise & Insulin Resistance - What do athletes and obese folks have in common? According to Duke University researcher Deborah Muoio, both accumulate lipids in their muscle tissues. In athletes, lipids provide extra fuel; however, in the sedentary obese, these lipids are incompletely oxidized, leading to the dreaded insulin resistance. In mice fed a high-fat diet, exercise restored glucose tolerance (insulin sensitivity). As if you didn't have enough good reasons to exercise, fair members. Take note!

Alpha Lipoic Acid Supports Heart Health - Researchers studied mice specially bred to suffer atherosclerosis -- a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries. The mice were fed a Western-type diet containing cholesterol and saturated fat; with some also receiving alpha lipoic acid supplements.

Alpha lipoic acid supplementation significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation and triglyceride levels.  Additionally, supplemented mice gained 40% less body weight than unsupplemented mice. Felines everywhere will mourn thinner mice, but you humans should rejoice for alpha lipoic acid. ^..^

Alpha Lipoic Acid  Lowers Triglycerides - In another study, diabetic rats fed alpha lipoic acid also experienced favorable results. Alpha lipoic acid appeared to inhibit the synthesis of fatty acids and triglycerides from the liver. In a related experiment, researchers determined that intravenously-administered alpha lipoic acid stimulated clearance of triglycerides from the blood.

Beagles Benefit from Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic Acid - Beagles supplemented twice daily with alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine performed significantly better than unsupplemented dogs in tests of complex learning and spatial abilities. Results are attributed to improved mitochondrial activity in the brain and possibly enhanced synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Three cheers for alpha lipoic acid on the research circuit!

If you'd like to read more about the Co-op's Alpha Lipoic Acid, visit our product page.