Alpha lipoic acid can remove toxins sequestered in mitochondria, like this picture of arsenic (the black stuff) stored in mitochondria thst a researcher gave me:
Conversely, it can also help toxins that hsve been mobilized be stored in mitochondria. So, it's wise to have the necessary steps in place to be fully escorted out of the body, or one runs the risk of moving something bad from a more benign place, let's say your belly fat, into your brain, etc.
I've been on a special form of ALA for 2 years. It has pulled arsenic and lead, measured by blood tests before and after, out of my body. At first, I was severely fatigued, but as the toxins came out, I became more energized by its other properties.
ALA is an important antioxidant, as it alone is able to recycle both water and fat soluble antioxidants. A good read on the antioxidant network is "The Antioxidant Miracle," by Lester Packet, who ran the world's foremost antioxidant lab at UC Berkeley for many years. This is a good topic to know about as a hallmark of ME/CFS, according to the top ME/CFS clinicians is oxidative stress. And beyond ALA, producing and recycling glutathione is important, too.
I've also been told ALA can oppose biotin, so if one is on high doses of ALA, it might be wise to supplement biotin, which some ME/CFS patients are depleted in, or at least monitor biotin levels.
