-
Lipoic acid (Fig
.
1) is usually present in the mitochondrial matrix in the cells of organisms where cells
metabolisms and
energy production take place.
Adenosine
t
riphosphate
(ATP), the energy required for
cellular activities, is produced from metabolism of glucose
via
series of pathways, namely glycolysis, citric acid
cycle, electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation
as shown in Fig.
2.
Pyruvic acid produced from
glycolysis is converted to acetyl CoA, a substrate for ATP production by
pyruvate dehydrogenase
, the enzyme
that catalyzes the conversion.
-
L
ipoic acid has been found to enhance the action of pyruvate dehydr
ogenase.
-
L
ipoic acid
normally exists in the reduced form in living organisms, and catalyzes oxidative decarboxylation
process converting pyruvate to acetyl CoA.
Hence,
-
lipoic acid is essential for energy production in cells.
At Oryza Oil & Fat Chemi
cal Co., Ltd., innovative process has been developed for the
production and commercialization of
-
lipoic acid enabling its application in the food industry.
In addition, liquid form
-
lipoic acid with high water dispersibility has been developed for its
i
ncreasing demand in the beverages industry.
Meanwhile, studies have been carried out in
Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Co., Ltd. to evaluate the various beneficial effects of
-
lipoic acid,
e.g
. skin whitening effect, inhibition of adipocytes production
and
gro
wth promoting effect on