The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of α-
lipoic acid on
body weight and
lipid profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). After 4 weeks of feeding, rats on the HFD were divided into three groups by randomized block design; the first group received the high-fat-diet (n = 10), and the second group received the HFD administered with 0.25% α-
lipoic acid (0.25LA), and the third group received the high-fat diet with 0.5% α-
lipoic acid (0.5LA). The high fat diet with α-
lipoic acid supplemented groups had significantly inhibited
body weight gain, compared to that in the HFD group (P < 0.05). Organ weights of rats were also significantly reduced in liver, kidney, spleen, and visible fat tissues in rats supplemented with α-
lipoic acid (P < 0.05). Significant differences in plasma
lipid profiles, such as total
lipids, total
cholesterol,
triglycerides,
low-density lipoprotein, and
high-density lipoprotein, were observed between the HFD and 0.5LA groups. The atherogenic index and the plasma
high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total
cholesterol ratio improved significantly with α-
lipoic acid supplementation in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Total hepatic
cholesterol and total
lipid concentration decreased significantly in high fat fed rats supplemented with α-
lipoic acid in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), whereas liver
triglyceride content was not affected. In conclusion, α-
lipoic acid supplementation had a positive effect on
weight gain and plasma and liver
lipid profiles in rats.