Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful, natural antioxidant recognized as having some unique properties in the treatment and prevention of a broad range of diseases. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid helps the body use glucose, hence alpha lipoic acid's potential role in improving blood sugar control. Alpha lipoic acid reduces complications from a high sugar diet. Lipoic acid is readily absorbed from the diet or as a supplement. Lipoic Acid has a variety of benefits, particularly for diabetics.

R Alpha Lipoic Acid capsule product - Doctor Formulated

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid. R-ALA is much more potent (2 times on average) than commonly sold synthetic lipoic acid which contains both the R and S forms of lipoic acid. The S form is chemically the mirror image of the R form of lipoic acid and is not useful to the body.

Supplement Facts
R Alpha Lipoic Acid - 50 mg *

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Conditions where Alpha Lipoic acid capsules may be helpful
Research in humans with lipoic acid is still incomplete. However, lipoic acid may theoretically be useful in a variety of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease.

Alpha Lipoic Acid as an antioxidant
Lipoic acid can regenerate vitamin C from its oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid. Lipoic acid can also potentially regenerate other antioxidants. Lipoic acid increases the levels of glutathione, a very important antioxidant normally found in our cells and responsible for mopping up all types of toxins and free radicals. Glutathione supplements, however, are not helpful since glutathione does not have the ability to cross cell membranes. Fortunately, both laboratory and animal studies have shown that lipoic acid can stimulate the production of this antioxidant. This is particularly important during periods of excessive stress or exposure to radiation or toxic substances. Lipoic acid also acts as a powerful antioxidant in the brain and is likely to protect brain cells from toxins.

Alpha lipoic acid benefits endothelial funciton
Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on endothelial function in aged diabetic and high-fat fed rats.
Br J Pharmacol. 2007 October. 1Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on endothelial function in diabetic and high-fat fed animal models and elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the benefits of alpha lipoic acid.. Our studies indicate alpha lipoic acid restores endothelial function and significantly improves systemic and local oxidative stress in high-fat fed diabetic rats.

Lipoic Acid side effects
There are no indications that low doses of lipoic acid, such as 5 to 20 mg, have side effects. Higher doses could cause nausea or stomach upset, along with over-stimulation, fatigue, and insomnia. High doses could also potentially lower blood sugar. This is often beneficial to patients who have diabetes, but it requires close monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Lipoic acid and diabetes
Lipoic acid is helpful in diabetes, particularly for those with diabetic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the cause and progression of late microangiopathic (small vessel) complications in diabetes mellitus. Treatment of diabetic patients with the antioxidant lipoic acid reduce oxidative stress and urinary albumin excretion, and slows the progression of endothelial cell damage.
   Diabetics are prone to kidney disease and oxidative stress may play a major role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease. Previous studies have suggested that treatment of diabetic patients with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid reduces oxidative stress and urinary protein excretion. In this study completed at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, the effect of alpha lipoic acid on the progression of kidney cell damage and the course of diabetic nephropathy was evaluated in 84 patients with diabetes over 18 months. Forty-nine patients had no antioxidant treatment and served as a control group. Thirty-five patients were treated with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid per day. After 18 months of follow up, those on lipoic acid had a slower progression of the disease than the control group as shown by a decrease in the amount of protein lost in urine. Previous studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid may be helpful for diabetic neuropathy, the loss of sensation often first noticed in feet. Laboratory studies have also indicated that lipoic acid reverses the age-associated decline in the proper functioning of mitochondria. Mitochondria are enclosures located within each cell. They are primarily responsible for energy production. 
   Comment: Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant and diabetics should consider taking it as a supplement. It is available over the counter in doses ranging from 10 to 300 mg. The proper dose for long term intake is not known. I generally recommend my patients with diabetes take between 20 to 100 mg a day.

Lipoic acid helpful in diabetic neuropathy
High blood sugar levels for prolonged periods can be toxic to nerves in the body. Diabetics who don't control their blood sugar eventually start losing sensation in their feet. Other problems follow resulting from damage to various nerves that supply internal organs. Even impotence can result due to loss of nerve sensation in genital organs. However high blood sugar may not be the only culprit. Diabetics are usually under high oxidative stress and this probably contributes to their neurological problems.
   Several studies indicate that alpha lipoic acid has beneficial effects on diabetic neuropathy, party due to its actions as an antioxidant, and also by improving the circulation to tiny blood vessels supplying nerve tissue.

Alpha Lipoic Acid and memory
Feeding lipoic acid and acetyl-l-carnitine to old rats improves performance on memory tasks by lowering oxidative damage and improving mitochondrial function.

Lipoic and Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has features of a neuropathy and could be related to the production of the toxic free radicals that are released in stress situations. Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant able to increase the levels of intracellular glutathione and eliminate free radicals. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in the therapy of BMS. Method: This was a double blind, controlled study conducted for two months on 60 patients with constant BMS. Comparing alpha-lipoic acid (test) with cellulose starch (placebo).
   Results and Conclusions: Following treatment with alpha lipoic acid, there was a significant symptomatic improvement, compared with placebo, with the majority showing at least some improvement after 2 months, thus supporting the hypothesis that burning mouth syndrome is a neuropathy. This improvement was maintained in over 70% of patients at the 1 year follow-up.

Loss of Taste
Researchers at the University of Medicine and Surgery, in Napoli, Italy, selected two homogenous groups, each of 22 patients with idiopathic dysgeusia, an altered perception of taste, matched for age and sex, for an open trial of alpha lipoic acid compared with placebo. The 22 patients in the study group were treated with alpha lipoic acid for 2 months. The 22 patients in the control group were treated for 2 months with carboxymethylcellulose. The latter group was then treated with alpha lipoic acid for 2 months. The results showed significant symptomatic improvements compared with placebo, in both groups of patients with dysgeusia treated with alpha lipoic acid, suggesting that idiopathic dysgeusia may be a neuropathy comparable to the burning mouth syndrome.

Alpha Lipoic acid cream benefit
Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid related to photoageing of facial skin.
Beitner H., Department of Dermatology, Karolinska Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Br J Dermatol. 2003 Oct;149(4):841-9.
alpha-lipoic acid or the reduced form dihydrolipoate (DHLA) is a potent scavenger with anti-inflammatory properties. Previous uncontrolled studies with topical treatment with 5% alpha-lipoic acid-containing creams indicate a beneficial effect on photoageing skin. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid showed any advantages concerning a number of the criteria associated with ageing of the facial skin, compared with an identical cream lacking alpha-lipoic acid. Thirty-three women, mean age 54 years, were included in this controlled study. After randomization half the face was treated twice daily for 12 weeks with the alpha-lipoic acid cream and the other half with the control cream. The following methods of assessment were used: self-evaluation by the test subjects, clinical evaluation, photographic evaluation and laser profilometry. Profilometry was performed before the start of treatment and at the end. All four methods of assessment showed a statistically significant improvement on the alpha-lipoic acid-treated half of the face. Laser profilometry, the most objective method used, showed an average decrease in skin roughness of 50% on the alpha-lipoic acid-treated side, compared with 40% on the placebo-treated half of the face (Wilcoxon matched pairs test). It is indicated that 12 weeks of treatment with a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid improves clinical characteristics related to photoageing of facial skin.

Lipoic acid emails
Q. Despite the emerging consensus on the superiority of R-lipoic acid over racemic lipoic acid, there is evidence that the presence of both R- and S- enantiomers in the latter has a synergistic effect resulting in the production of more DHLA, the metabolite that is active in many of the beneficial effects of lipoic acid. See BIOFACTORS; Bast, A;
17:207-213 (2003). In other words, there may be a benefit to the racemic form. I personally had a VERY negative reaction (irritability, exhaustion, cognitive problems) from R-lipoic acid but no problem - in fact, great results with energy and mental clarity - with the racemic form. Puzzled by results contradictory to what seemed the latest research, I tried several brands and formulations and increasingly smaller doses of R-lipoic acid (down to 5 mg), always with negative results. Finally I went back to the racemic form, which I take in a time release formulation. I take lipoic acid for fatigue and cognitive issues associated with multiple sclerosis, and it has been a remarkable help to me so far (about 7 months). I doubt I could continue working without it. Of course, there is no way of knowing why I react negatively to "R" but not racemic, no matter how low the dose of "R", but it does suggest that "R" and racemic are different in kind, not merely in strength. I share this story so people who have a negative reaction to R-lipoic acid might consider switching to the racemic form.

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