Alpha lipoic acid protects the heart against myocardial post ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmias via KATP channel activation in isolated rat hearts.

The cardiovascular effects of alpha lipoic acid were evaluated in isolated rat hearts exposed to ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. Alpha-lipoic acid raised the level of sulfane sulfur playing an important role in the release of hydrogen sulfide. H2S was shown to prevent the post-reperfusion arrhythmias and to protect the cardiomyocytes from death caused by hypoxia.