Scientists studied mice with a rare genetic condition called acute intermittent porphyria to see if special supplements could help their bodies handle high-carbohydrate diets better. They found that two supplements—one called alpha-lipoic acid and another called lipoteichoic acid from a beneficial bacteria—helped improve how the body processes sugar, reduced excess insulin in the blood, and helped mice build more muscle while losing fat. The supplements also helped restore healthy gut bacteria. These findings suggest these supplements might help people with this condition manage their diet and metabolism more effectively.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether two dietary supplements could help mice with a rare genetic disorder process carbohydrates better and maintain healthier body composition
  • Who participated: Laboratory mice—some with acute intermittent porphyria (a genetic condition) and some without—divided into groups receiving different supplements over 12 weeks
  • Key finding: Two supplements—alpha-lipoic acid and lipoteichoic acid—worked better than other treatments at improving how muscles take up sugar from the blood, lowering excess insulin levels, and helping mice build more muscle relative to fat
  • What it means for you: For people with this rare genetic condition who need to eat high-carbohydrate diets, these supplements may help their bodies process carbs more efficiently and maintain better body composition, though human studies are still needed to confirm these results

The Research Details

Researchers used laboratory mice to study a rare genetic condition called acute intermittent porphyria. They divided the mice into different groups and gave some groups specific supplements mixed into their drinking water for 12 weeks while all mice ate a high-carbohydrate diet. The supplements tested included alpha-lipoic acid (a compound known to help with insulin sensitivity) and lipoteichoic acid (a component from a beneficial bacteria). They also tested some gene therapy and insulin treatments for comparison.

Throughout the study, researchers measured how well the mice’s bodies handled sugar, checked insulin levels in their blood, examined their muscle and fat composition, and analyzed the bacteria living in their digestive systems. This allowed them to see which treatments worked best at improving multiple aspects of metabolism and body health.

This research approach is important because it tests whether dietary supplements can solve a real problem for people with this condition: they need to eat high-carbohydrate diets to prevent serious attacks, but high-carb diets can cause their bodies to become resistant to insulin (meaning their bodies don’t respond well to insulin anymore). By testing supplements in a controlled setting with mice that have the same genetic condition, scientists can understand whether these supplements actually work and how they work before testing them in people.

This study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting with careful measurement of multiple health markers, which strengthens the reliability of the findings. However, because it was done in mice rather than humans, the results may not translate exactly to people. The relatively small number of mice in each group (6 per group) is typical for this type of research but means results should be confirmed with larger studies. The fact that researchers measured multiple outcomes (glucose tolerance, insulin levels, body composition, and gut bacteria) rather than just one outcome makes the findings more convincing.

What the Results Show

Mice with the genetic condition that received high-carbohydrate diets developed high insulin levels in their blood and had problems with their muscles taking up sugar efficiently—similar to insulin resistance in humans. When researchers gave these mice alpha-lipoic acid or lipoteichoic acid supplements, both supplements significantly improved how well the mice’s muscles could take up sugar from the blood and reduced the excess insulin circulating in their systems.

Both supplements also helped the mice maintain better body composition by increasing lean muscle mass relative to body fat. Interestingly, the lipoteichoic acid supplement was particularly effective at restoring the balance of bacteria in the mice’s digestive systems to resemble those of healthy mice without the genetic condition. These improvements were greater than what researchers saw with gene therapy or direct insulin administration treatments.

The study revealed that mice with the genetic condition had unhealthy changes in their gut bacteria, including lower amounts of beneficial bacteria called Dorea and Adlercreutzia, and higher amounts of potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli. The lipoteichoic acid supplement was especially good at reversing these bacterial imbalances. This is important because gut bacteria play a role in how our bodies process food and regulate metabolism. The restoration of healthy gut bacteria may have contributed to the improvements in insulin sensitivity and body composition.

Previous research has shown that high-carbohydrate diets can trigger problems in people with acute intermittent porphyria, and that these diets can cause insulin resistance and metabolic problems. This study builds on that knowledge by showing that specific supplements might prevent these negative effects. The findings align with previous research showing that alpha-lipoic acid can improve insulin sensitivity in other conditions. The novel finding here is that lipoteichoic acid—a component from beneficial bacteria—may work similarly well and may also restore healthy gut bacteria, which is a new mechanism of benefit.

The biggest limitation is that this research was conducted in mice, not humans, so results may not translate directly to people with this condition. The study used relatively small groups of mice (6 per group), which means larger studies would be needed to confirm these findings. The study lasted 12 weeks, which is relatively short for understanding long-term effects. Additionally, while the supplements showed promise, the study didn’t fully explain all the ways these supplements work in the body. Finally, this was a controlled laboratory study with specific diets and conditions, which may not reflect real-world situations where people have more varied diets and lifestyles.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, alpha-lipoic acid and lipoteichoic acid supplements appear promising for helping people with acute intermittent porphyria manage their metabolism when eating high-carbohydrate diets. However, confidence in these recommendations is moderate because this research was done in mice, not humans. Anyone with this condition should discuss these supplements with their doctor before starting them, as individual responses may vary and some supplements can interact with medications.

This research is most relevant for people with acute intermittent porphyria who struggle with insulin resistance and metabolic problems despite needing to eat high-carbohydrate diets. It may also be of interest to people with other conditions involving insulin resistance, though more research would be needed to confirm benefits in those populations. People without this genetic condition should not assume these supplements will provide the same benefits, as the study was specifically designed for this rare condition.

In the mouse study, improvements in insulin sensitivity and body composition became apparent over the 12-week supplementation period. If these findings translate to humans, similar improvements might take several weeks to months to become noticeable. However, individual responses vary, and some people may see benefits sooner or later than others. It’s important to give any new supplement adequate time to work while monitoring for effects with your healthcare provider.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If prescribed these supplements by a doctor, track fasting blood sugar levels and insulin levels weekly, along with weekly measurements of waist circumference and body weight to monitor changes in body composition over 8-12 weeks
  • Work with your healthcare provider to establish a consistent supplement routine (same time each day) while maintaining your prescribed high-carbohydrate diet, and use the app to log supplement adherence and any symptoms or changes you notice
  • Set up monthly check-ins to review trends in blood sugar control, energy levels, and body composition changes; share this data with your healthcare provider to assess whether the supplements are working for your individual situation

This research was conducted in mice with a rare genetic condition and has not yet been tested in humans. These findings should not be used to self-treat or self-diagnose. If you have acute intermittent porphyria or suspect you might have this condition, consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements. Alpha-lipoic acid and lipoteichoic acid supplements may interact with medications or have side effects in some people. Always discuss new supplements with your doctor, especially if you take other medications or have other health conditions. This summary is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.