Use of the Dietary Supplement 5-Aminiolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) and Its Relationship with Glucose Levels and Hemoglobin A1C among Individuals with Prediabetes

The study showed that 5-ALA is safe to administer at doses up to 50 mgs a day. Th is investigation showed a reduction in 2 hours post-OGTT glucose in comparison to the control group, especially among those with high 2 hours post-OGTT glucose levels at baseline (≥140 mg/dL). Th e 5-ALA high-dose group showed a mean decrease of 14 mg/dL in 2 hours post-OGTT glucose over the 12-week study. Those in the 5-ALA low-dose group, showed a mean decline of 24 mg/dL over the 12 weeks. In contrast, the placebo group had an increase of 25 mg/dL in 2 hours post-OGTT glucose over the 12-week study (a net diff erence of 49 mg/dL in 2 hours post-OGTT glucose between the 5-ALA low-dose and the control group). Th e study suggests that 5-ALA supplementation may help to prevent or delay the progression to diabetes among those with prediabetes.

Acknowledgments: Strategic Business Innovator (SBI) ALA Promo Co., Ltd provided a contract to the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to conduct this study. The study supplement was provided by the sponsor. Investigators had full control over the study and the present manuscript. The formulation used in this investigation is available in Japan as a food supplement.

Abstract Journal: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5439781/pdf/CTS-5-314.pdf