Alpha Lipoic Acid benefit, research studies, dosage, 50 mg or 100 mg, R Alpha Lipoic Acid product for blood sugar help - Is a 600 mg product safe? Are there risks in taking too much? What about heart palpitations or irregular rhythm?

Alpha lipoic acid ALA is a powerful, natural antioxidant that may have benefit in the prevention or treatment of certain medical conditions. In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid can benefit the body use glucose, hence the potential of alpha lipoic acid in improving blood sugar control. Alpha lipoic acid is readily absorbed from the diet or as a supplement. For many decades people associated the word antioxidant with vitamins E and C. In recent years it has become apparent that there are literally thousands of nutrients and herbs that have antioxidant activity. One of the new stars is alpha lipoic acid. And it now appears that a form of alpha lipoic acid, called R alpha lipoic acid, is actually the active form that provides the benefit. If you're taking a conventional alpha lipoic acid supplement, you're only getting half or less of the benefit. The reason for this is that most alpha lipoic acid products on the market have both the S form and the R form. The S form is chemically the mirror image of the R form of lipoic acid and cannot be used by the body, hence it is useless. Thus, 50 mg of R alpha lipoic acid is equivalent to 100 mg of regular synthetic ALA which includes both forms. If you have an interest in losing weight, perhaps even a few pounds a week, consider doctor formulated herbal weight loss product called Diet Rx.

R Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid ALA is of much more benefit than commonly sold synthetic alpha lipoic acid supplement which contains both the R and S forms of alpha lipoic acid. The S form is chemically the mirror image of the R form of alpha lipoic acid and is not useful to the body.

R Alpha Lipoic Acid ALA Supplement Facts
R ALA - 50 mg *

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Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement benefit for Diabetic Pain
The antioxidant alpha lipoic acid in supplement form may benefit diffuse nerve pain or "polyneuropathy" in patients with diabetes. A recent pooled analysis showed that daily intravenous treatment with alpha lipoic acid could reduce pain and numbness in diabetic patients, but little work has been done to investigate the use of oral alpha lipoic acid. Dr. Dan Ziegler from Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany and colleagues compared three doses of oral alpha lipoic acid to placebo in 166 patients with symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy. Mean total symptom scores and stabbing / lancinating and burning pain subscores were significantly reduced after 5 weeks in all active treatment arms compared with the placebo arm. Alpha lipoic acid treatment had no measurable effect on numbness. Symptoms improved significantly as early as 1 week with the highest alpha lipoic acid dose (1800 mg daily) and within 2 weeks with the other doses (600 mg and 1200 mg daily), and there were no significant differences among the three alpha lipoic acid groups for changes in mean total symptom score at any time point. Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness were more common with alpha lipoic acid treatment than with placebo treatment. Whether the observed favorable short-term effect of alpha lipoic acid on nerve pain and deficits can be translated into slowing the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy in the long term is unknown. Diabetes Care November 2006.

R Alpha Lipoic Acid benefit for Brain and Eyes
 Scientists are now starting to focus their attention on the benefit of R alpja lipoic acid supplement. Two recent studies shed additional light on the benefit of R alpha lipoic acid supplement. At the University of California in Berkeley, researchers discovered that R alpha lipoic acid protects cultured human retinal pigment cells when the cells are exposed to oxidants. The researchers say, "The present study suggests that the protective effect of R alpha lipoic acid involves multiple pathways and that R alpha lipoic acid could be effective against age-associated increase in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal cells."
     In a second study completed at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, rats were supplemented with R alpha lipoic acid to determine if any changes occurred in iron accumulation in the brain. Accumulation of iron and copper has been proposed to contribute to additional oxidative stress in aging and certain neurodegenerative disorders. Results showed that brain iron levels in old R alpha lipoic acid fed animals were lower when compared to controls and were similar to levels seen in young rats.
    Comment: Most R alpha lipoic acid capsules come in a 50 mg dosage. For long term use, one capsule 3 times a week provides adequate benefit. Some people may prefer using a quarter, third or half a capsule since high doses may cause shallow sleep, even if the alpha lipoic supplement supplement is taken in the morning.

Alpha lipoic acid and liver surgery
 Reduction of ischemia reperfusion injury after liver resection and hepatic inflow occlusion by alpha-lipoic acid in humans.
 World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Nov 14;12(42):6812-7. Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, University Hospital Mainz, Germany.
Twenty-four patients undergoing liver resection for various reasons either received 600 mg alpha lipoic acid or NaCl 15 min before transection performed under inflow occlusion of the liver. Serum levels of aspartate transferase and alanine transferase were reduced at all time points in patients who received alpha lipoic acid in comparison to those who received NaCL. This is the first report on the potential for LA reducing ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver in humans who were undergoing liver surgery. Beside its simple and rapid application, side effects did not occur. Alpha lipoic acid might therefore represent a new strategy against hepatic resection under inflow occlusion of the liver in humans.

Dosage of Alpha Lipoic Acid products
We don't think a dosage of alpha lipoic acid supplement greater than 50 or 100 mg a day is necessary for most people.
Alpha Lipoic Acid 50 mg
 Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg
ALA 200 mg
Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 mg
 Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg - We think heart rhythm problems could occur as a side effect of using 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid.
See also Acetyl-l-Carnitine.

Alpha Lipoic acid ALA is a powerful fat- and water soluble antioxidant.  It directly recycles vitamin C and indirectly recycles vitamin E, providing additional antioxidant protection.  It is also an important component in the energy production process in the cells.

Alpha lipoic acid supplement benefit emails
I am writing with regard to the alpha lipoic acid ALA story published in a recent newsletter. Many people do not realize that alpha lipoic acid chelates heavy metals. It also can cross the blood brain barrier. When alpha lipoic acid is taken in large infrequent doses it can pick up metals and move them into the brain and other sensitive tissues. The safe way to use alpha lipoic acid is to take small doses every few hours. When alpha lipoic acid is used in this way the net effect is removal of heavy metals from the body. Alpha lipoic acid should not be used at all by anyone who still has mercury amalgam fillings in their teeth or recent mercury exposure. The scientist who understands alpha lipoic acid use and has witnessed the sucessful chelation of many people is Dr. Andrew Cutler. The reason I know this is because I am very seriously mercury poisoned myself. My doctor is consulting with Dr. Cutler for my treatment. I have been chelating with low dose DMPS since last September. My symptoms have improved dramatically. I am introducing ALA now and can only tolerate 5 mg per dose (every 3 h). I am aware of many metal poisoned people who have used alpha lipoic acid, as described in Andy Cutler's chelation protocol, to chelate and get better. I am also aware of several people who have used alpha lipoic aicd ALA inappropriately and have suffered severe consequences. Irregular heart rhythms have been reported by others. Neurological symptoms are often reported.
   A. Thank you for your email but much that has been said is speculation at this point. We do agree to use low amounts of alpha lipoic acid supplement and hence there is no need to do the impractical frequency of every 3 hours. A low dosage of alpha lipoic acid supplement such as 10 to 20 mg in the morning is a good start.

R alpha lipoic acid side effects
I'm currently taking 50 mg. every other day and I'm having side effects. Jittery, dropping things, confusion and a general, unwell feeling. I'm not on any other medications for diabetes. Should I continue with it or, do you recommend a lower dose or, stop it completely.
    You may be sensitive to these high dosages. If you doctor approves, consider using a quarter or a third of a capsule with breakfast.

Pregnancy
 Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits tumor necrosis factor-induced remodeling and weakening of human fetal membranes.
 Biol Reprod. 2009 Apr; Moore RM, Novak JB, Kumar D, Mansour JM, Mercer BM, Moore JJ. Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, USA.
Untimely rupture of the fetal membranes (FMs) is a major precipitant of preterm birth. Although the mechanism of FM weakening leading to rupture is not completely understood, proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), have been shown to weaken FMs concomitant with the induction of reactive oxygen species, collagen remodeling, and prostaglandin release. We hypothesized that alpha-lipoic acid, a dietary antioxidant, may block the effect of inflammatory mediators and thereby inhibit FM weakening. Full-thickness FM fragments were incubated with control media or TNF, with or without alpha-lipoic acid pretreatment. Fetal membrane rupture strength and the release of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) from the full-thickness FM fragments were determined. The two constituent cell populations in amnion, the mechanically strongest FM component, were similarly examined. Amnion epithelial and mesenchymal cells were treated with TNF or IL1B, with or without alpha-lipoic acid pretreatment. MMP9 and PGE(2) were analyzed by ELISA, Western blot, and zymography. TNF decreased FM rupture strength 50% while increasing MMP9 and PGE(2) release. Lipoic acid inhibited these TNF-induced effects. Lipoic acid pretreatment also inhibited TNF- and IL1B-induced increases in MMP9 protein activity and release in amnion epithelial cells, as well as PGE(2) increases in both amnion epithelial and mesenchymal cells. In summary, lipoic acid pretreatment inhibited TNF-induced weakening of FM and cytokine-induced MMP9 and PGE(2) in both intact FM and amnion cells. We speculate that dietary supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid might prove clinically useful in prevention of preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes.

Alpha Lipoic Acid ALA Questions
Q. I wanted to know if alpha lipoic acid product is good for losing weight and if so how much n what time period.
   A. We are not aware of any research with alpha lipoic acid and weight loss.

Q. I've had borderline high blood glucose levels for approx. 20 yrs. (100-126) Until the standards were recently lowered, nothing was said by my Doctor. Now it seems to be a potential problem. I take 5 grams of vitamin C per day and am 70 and reasonably fit. I'd like to know what dosage of R alpha Lipoic Acid supplement you'd reccomend.
   A. We cannot make any individual recommendations, but most people do fine with 10 to 50 mg of r alpha lipoic acid supplement a few times a week.

Q. Is alpha lipoic acid ALA helpful in burning mouth syndrome?
   A. Perhaps in some cases. See burning mouth syndrome for more info.

Q. The website www.juvenon.com contains interesting information about the combination of alpha lipoic acid and acetyl l carnitine. I began taking these two supplements a couple of years ago in the prescribed dosage and felt an energy boost 3 days later, and an increase in memory retention and retrieval. But thereafter I felt more sluggish, I think the alpha lipoic supplement dose was too high.

Q. I have a question regarding Alpha Lipoic Acid and mercury dental fillings. I have not allowed any new mercury fillings to be placed in my mouth for over 20 years now. But I do have a few small ones left that I do not want to remove for various reasons. As they need to be removed or repaired, they are of course, repaired without mercury. I am telling you the age of the fillings because I have read that the mercury/vapors have a life that diminishes over time. Therefore, it is my understanding that my mercury fillings would not be as problematic as new ones. In the past, I have read protocols for removing mercury and other toxic metals from the body. They say that Alpha Lipoic Acid is very effective, but that if mercury is present, it has the ability to remove it, but then redeposits it in the brain. I am hoping that in my case, you would believe that I have nothing to worry about, if I want to take a reasonable daily amount of Alpha Lipoic Acid in my daily regimen. I believe I read those protocols on a website that was treating autism. I would love to reap all of the many benefits of taking Alpha Lipoic Acid without having to worry needlessly about damaging my brain. Please give me your opinion on this subject.
   A. We have not come across any studies regarding the role of alpha lipoic acid and mercury fillings.

Q. Does CoQ10 lead to better sex?
   A. We don't think CoQ10 has much of an influence, at least in the short run, in terms of improving sex life.

Q. What is a good starting dosage for Alpha Lipoic Acid?
   A. Each person is different in their response or need, you may wish to read the research on it and make a decision with your health care provider. It never hurts to take less initially, even if it is a portion of a capsule. One option is to take a third of a 50 mg R alpha lipoic acid capsule.

Q. I'm wondering if R Alpha Lipoic acid might help me with a small problem. I take alpha lipoic acid to help raise my alertness level. I notice that when I take it I also wake up a lot more easily the next morning. My question is, it makes my urine smell really musty and if I take it every day I think my skin or breath exudes that odor. I am taking 600mg at a time when I take it. I no longer take it every day because of the smell, but I miss the alertness factor and that's the
dosage that really helps alertness. Do you know what causes the smell? It is the casting off of unneeded parts of the molecule, in which case the "R" form might have the benefit without that side effect?
   A. This is a good question. We don't know as of January 2008. The 600 mg dose of alpha lipoic acid is excessive.

Q. Please tell me the difference between Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Alpha Lipoic Acid. I do take the first two. I have Hypothyroidism and take Levoxyl 50mcg. I also have atrial Fibrillation and take Cardizen CD 120Mg. I have terrible insomnia and have to take a sleeping pill Ambien every night for the last year 5mg just to get 4 hours of sleep per night. My Dr. doesn't seem to be concerned, but I am because I'm always fatigued.
   A. Linolenic acid and linoleic acid are not the same as alpha lipoic acid. Alpha lipoic acid, in high dosages, can cause insomnia and heart rhythm problems.

Q. i bought R alpha lipoic acid 50mg, can you pls. tell me the dosage i'm a diabetic type 2 sometimes my blood sugar is 150 sometimes 130 im taking Glucovance 500mg every morning, Lifezar 25mg multi vitamins, i would like to know if im going to start the alpha lipoic acid medication will i stop my Glucovance and what is the dosage for me. It states in the plastic bottle one capsule every other day, Does this alpha lipoic acid will cause hypoglycemia?
   A. Each person with diabetes is different in how the supplements influence their blood sugar so it is not possible for us to give precise answers. Your doctor may wish to read this page and give you advice on how to best treat your specific concerns.

Q. I am interested in taking alpha lipoic acid. I am allergic to sulfa and sulfur containing products. Does alpha lipoic acid contain any sulfa  / sulfur?
   A. Alpha lipoic acid contains two sulfur groups. Sulfur is an important mineral useful in the body, and that allergic reactions to sulfonamide (sometimes called "sulfur") antibiotics do not increase the likelihood that a person will also be allergic to sulfur powder or sulfite preservatives.

Q. I am currently taking a supplement r-Alpha Lipoic Acid 50mg. I would like to know if its ok for me take this supplement, my saliva adrenal glands test shows I have adrenal fatigue and in past I had mild hypothyroidism but its ok now. I heard Alpha Lipoic Acid can help with energy, it might be useful me because I feel tired sometimes without no reason. I am bit worried it can cause low blood sugar, I might already have low blood sugar because I heard people with adrenal fatigue has blood sugar imbalance so i don't want to cause more harm than good, do you think it will be ok for me take this supplement, I am also taking amino acid, multivitamins, Iodine / potassium iodide supplement and milk thistle.
   A. It is not possible for us to say whether a person should or should not take a supplement since there are so many factors involved. For long term use, 50 mg of r alpha lipoic acid may be too high a dose for most people and one can take a lower dosage or less frequently.

Q. I appreciate your advising consumers to not exceed 50 mg daily of R alpha lipoic acid, but I'm puzzled as to why your formulation contains no biotin. Well-documented research (that of Juvenon) finds biotin to be an important, perhaps necessary, adjunct to the absorption of R alpha lipoic acid. I would greatly appreciate knowing your reasoning.
   A. We have not seen any human research where the addition of biotin to a r alpha lipoic acid supplement showed benefits that r alpha lipoic acid was not able to provide alone. Biotin is a cheap vitamin and those who wish to take it can purchase a biotin bottle and take it as needed. Most r alpha lipoic acid supplements have high dosages, more than people require, and there is no need to improve absorption since most users are taking too high a dosage anyway. We frequently hear of side effects such as insomnia and rapid heart beat from the use of r alpha lipoic acid, even at low dosages.

I would like to ask about neuroprotective agents in general. I use alpha Lipoic acid, with great results (I suffer from an undefined peripheral neuropathy). To make a long story short, I would like to try additional supplement to further improve my condition. What supplement show neuroprotective effect? Can you recommend a reference book or a good review article about this topic?
    There are many supplements that have antioxidant potential and could potentially be helpful in protecting nerve cells. Acetyl l carnitine is another popular supplement but it may be best to have small amounts of a variety of antioxidants rather than high dosages of just one or two.

I have ordered R-Lipoic Acid from Physicians Formulas several times and would like to ask a question about it. I somewhere read: The absorption of most commercial R ALA powder, capsules and tablets is less than 1%, due to extensive polymerization during manufacturing and in the stomach. R ALA has poor solubility and absorption from the GI tract and polymerizes on contact in low pH environments. Therefore, R ALA must first be stabilized as a salt, or an aqueous solution of the salt.
    Our review of the research on R ALA does not support these viewpoints. We believe R ALA is very well absorbed based on the response from users.

I have type 2 Diabetes and have seen that 600 to 1200 mg of ALA would be very good for my health. In your article you only use 50 mg, What would you think of my use of more than 50mg?
    This is a decision you and your doctor need to make keeping in my the adverse effects that are possible on high dosages.

I am 33 yrs old and have been diabetic type I since about the age of 9. I am currently taking 900mg of benfothiamine to stop and prevent neuropathy per day and I was curious if you could explain what is the main differences between benfotiamine and alpha lipoic acid? Is one better than the other? Should a diabetic take both? Do you recommend one over the other?
    Benfotiamine and ALA are different substances with different functions. They both play a role in the management of diabetes and its complications. Research with the combination has not been done and it is difficult to say which is better. Most likely a combination would be more effective but one needs to use lower dosages when combining supplements.

Regarding alpha lipoic acid and  low dose naltrexone. I have been reading about success having been made with ms, lupus, regenerating new liver cells, and other autoimmune diseases. I was wondering if you had any information about this? I read the interview between Julia Schopick, and Dr. Burton Berkson, M.D.,PHd, about his success in his clinic in New Mexico.
    We are not familiar with their viewpoints.

I’ve been reading about the research and benefits of R Alpha Lipoic Acid for a while and some of the articles I’ve read refer to the R-ALA being administered in an IV form. I’ve been having some IV ALA, but it’s the R-S form, which I don’t believe to be as effective as the R form. Consequently I’m trying to find producers / manufacturers of the IV form of R-ALA. I know it’s available as the research I’ve done refers to it’s use in these studies. I live in Australia, and to date haven’t been able to find anyone locally who knows of a manufacturer of the IV form. Can u put me in contact with anyone who manufactures the IV form of R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?
    We are not familiar with the IV form of this supplement.

I'm 55 years old, have celiac disease, arthritis, mold allergies, seasonal and multiple food allergies. I've have needed antihistamines round the clock for several years to keep painful allergy symptoms (headaches, body aches & joint pain) under control. I had also had hip bursitis for over a year and have recently been experiencing symptoms of sciatica.

I heard about a doctor who is using low dose naltrexone & ALA to treat autoimmune disease, so I decided to try it the ALA which was readily available. I bought some inexpensive 200mg ALA and took one the first day, one the second day and noticed no changes in the way I felt (not that I really knew what to expect). On the third day I took one 200 mg capsule at each meal for a total of 600mg. The next day, I had lots of energy, no allergy symptoms, no body pain, so I didn't take any antihistamines (or OTC pain medication). I continued to take 600mg of ALA for the two weeks and enjoyed being completely free of allergy symptoms AND pain w/o using antihistamines or pain meds. (This is the first time I've been comfortable without antihistamines for over three years.) First noticed side effect: If I took more than one 200mg ALA at a meal, I'd have urinary urge incontinence, but not if I spread the dose throughout the day. Next noticed side effect: After about 2 weeks I began to experience insomnia and feel over stimulated. My neck and upper back muscles were in spasms almost round the clock. I cut back my ALA dose to 400 mg per day and the back spasms & insomnia continued. I cut back my ALA dose to 200 mg per day, and the spasms & insomnia continued. I finally stopped taking the ALA for two days. The spasms & insomnia stopped and my allergy symptoms have not returned. A little bursitis discomfort has returned, but no other pain. I'm in the process now of adjusting my dose so that I can hopefully continue to have relief of allergy symptoms & pains. Thanks for the website with helpful guidelines & suggestions for dosages.

Just found your page on alpha lipoic acid and wanted to share my experience. I took a Whole Foods Market multivitamin with 75 mg of ALA for about 8-10 weeks. Gradually, I began to experience pain in my knees which became so severe that I experienced trouble walking. My Dr sent me to the Orthopedic / Sports Medicine practice. They Xrayed and said I had bad cartilige damage and gave me a brace. I started thinking. I have NEVER had knee problems or any other arthritic difficulties. What was I doing differently? Prior multivits didn't have ALa. When I stopped taking multivit with ALA, the pain gradually disappeared and hasn't returned for over 6 years now EXCEPT when I used a face cream with ALa for more than 3-4 day consecutively. By then I had a good idea what the problem is. Previously I had had high hair and blood mercury levels and discovered ALA has very strong "chelating" action (which can men releasing bound mercury but not always successfully binding and removing it). My guess is that the "chelating" affect had something to do with my response.
    It is not clear to us why this side effect would occur but we are not ready to blame a chelating effect at this time.


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