Alpha Lipoic Acid benefit, research studies, dosage, 50 mg, 100 mg or 300? Natural 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 as adverse reactions?

Alpha lipoic acid 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, it can benefit the body using glucose, hence its potential in improving blood sugar control. 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. And it now appears that a form of ALA, called R alpha lipoic acid, is actually the active form that provides the benefit. If you're taking a conventional supplement, you're only getting half or less of the benefit. The reason for this is that most such 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 and cannot be used by the body, hence it is useless. Thus, 50 mg of R form is equivalent to 100 mg of regular ALA which includes both forms. 

buy R Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement 50 mg per pill

Dosage and daily use
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 third or half a capsule since high doses may cause shallow sleep, even if the supplement is taken in the morning.

Absorption
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.
    Our review of the research on R ALA does not support these viewpoints. We believe the Physicians Formulas brand it is very well absorbed based on the response from users.

Adrenal fatigue
I would like to know if its ok to take 50 mg, my saliva adrenal glands test shows I have adrenal fatigue and in past I had mild hypothyroidism but its ok now. I heard it 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. I am also taking amino acid, multivitamins, Iodine / potassium iodide supplement and milk thistle.
   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.

Allergy treatment
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 and joint pain) under control. I had also had hip bursitis for over a year and have recently been experiencing symptoms of sciatica. Does ALA help reduce mold allergies?
    We have not seen such clinical trials yet.

Brain benefit
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 involves multiple pathways and that it could be effective against age-associated increase in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in retinal cells."

Burning mouth syndrome
Perhaps in some cases this nutrient could be of benefit. See burning mouth syndrome for more info.

Diabetes and blood sugar
I've had borderline high blood glucose levels for approx. 20 yrs. 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 recommend.
   We cannot make any individual recommendations, but most people do fine with 10 to 50 mg  of the R version a few times a week.

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. I'm taking Glucovance 500mg every morning, Lifezar 25mg multi vitamins. Should I stop my Glucovance and what is the dosage for me. It states in the plastic bottle one capsule every other day, Does it cause hypoglycemia?
   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. We do not suggest stopping the medication unless your doctor approves. He or she may recommend beginning with 50 mg every other day. It should not cause hypoglycemia when used in low dosages.

I have type 2 Diabetes and have seen that 600 to 1200 mg would be very good for my health. In your article you only recommend 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 mind the adverse effects that are possible on high dosages.

Benefit for diabetic foot 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 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 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 ALA (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 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. Dr. Dan Ziegler is not sure whether the observed favorable short-term effect on nerve pain and deficits can be translated into slowing the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy in the long term is unknown. Diabetes Care 2006.

Eye health
In a 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 animals were lower when compared to controls and were similar to levels seen in young rats.

Mercury filings in teeth
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 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 ALA is very effective, but that if mercury is present, it has the ability to remove it, but then redeposits it in the brain. If I want to take a reasonable daily amount of alpha lipoic acid in my daily regimen. I would love to reap all of the many benefits of taking ALA without having to worry needlessly about damaging my brain.
   We have not come across any studies regarding the role of alpha lipoic acid and mercury fillings.

Neuroma pain relief?
Neuroma is a swelling of a nerve often as a result of a compression or trauma. We are not sure if it would help or not.

Neuropathy
I use alpha Lipoic acid with great results (I suffer from an undefined peripheral neuropathy. I would like to try additional supplements to further improve my condition. What other show neuroprotective effect? Can you recommend a reference book or a good review article?
   There are many nutrients 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.

Pregnancy
Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits tumor necrosis factor-induced remodeling and weakening of human fetal membranes.
Biol Reprod. 2009. Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
 We speculate that dietary supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid might prove clinically useful in prevention of preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes.

Sexual enhancement
Does ALA use lead to better sex?
   We don't think it has much of an influence, at least in the short run, in terms of improving sex life.

Weight loss
I wanted to know if alpha lipoic acid product is good for losing weight and if so how much n what time period.
   We are not aware of any research with ALA and weight loss. By itself it is not likely to be a major factor.

Dosage of products over the counter without a prescription
We don't think a dosage greater than 50 or 100 mg a day is necessary for most people. This supplement is available in 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, and even 600 mg - We think heart rhythm problems could occur as a side effect of using a dosage higher than 100 mg, and certainly at 600 mg.

For persons who choose to eliminate consumption of nightshades such as potatoes, is there an a product that is not derived from potatoes?
    As far as we know, this product is not made from potatoes but is chemically synthesized.

I’ve been reading about the research and benefits for a while and some of the articles I’ve read refer to the R-ALA being administered in an intravenous 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.
    We are not familiar with the IV form of this supplement.

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.
   We have not seen any human research where the addition of biotin 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 ALA 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.

Use with other nutraceuticals
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.

Can this supplement be taken together with the herb gymnema sylvestre?
    We have not seen any studies in combination with gymnema sylvestre herb, but we don't foresee any problems in low dosages.

Can it be used together with aphrodisiac herbs?
   Tongkat ali is a natural sex stimulant and they should not be used the same day.

Use with medications
Regarding alpha lipoic acid and  low dose naltrexone. I have been reading about success having been made with multiple sclerosis, 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.

R alpha lipoic acid side effects, allergy
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.

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. Iit 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. 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?
   We don't know why this is occurring to you.

I am interested in taking alpha lipoic acid. I am allergic to sulfa and sulfur containing products. Does it contain any sulfa  / sulfur?
   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.

Please tell me the difference between linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and ALA. I have hypothyroidism and take Levoxyl 50mg. 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.
   Linolenic acid and linoleic acid are fatty acids found in food. Alpha lipoic acid, in high dosages, can cause insomnia.

I am writing on behalf of my husband, who is a peritoneal dialysis patient, he is 67 years old and recently went to an apothecary who recommended Lipoic Acid 300 mg twice a day for neuropathy. He also, had a sore throat and our family practitioner prescribed Pen Vee 600 mg twice a day. After about four days on the Lipoic Acid and the Pen Vee he became very confused and was hallucinating. He had to be hospitalized. They, of course, blamed the confusion on the supplement. He was also recommended and started Zinc 10 mg lozenges, Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate 50 mg, Iodine 12.5 mg one capsule once a day. He is on Thyroid medication, Potassium, Allopurinol, Cipralex, Losec, Magnesium, multivitamin, Fish Oil. He has never felt very good since he started dialysis and we were hoping he would be able to feel a little better, as conventional medicine, only helps to a certain point.

Testimonials
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.

MaxGXL email
I have recently come across a supplement MaxGXL. It proposes to be able to increase glutathione. I have taken it now for over 2 months, the main things I have noticed are maintained energy levels and more awareness throughout my day. The ingredients of the product are: Calcium Ascorbate - A mineral salt of Vitamin C. Calcium Ascorbate is 80% Vitamin C and 20% calcium. L-Glutamine- The most abundant of all of the amino acids found in the muscles of the body. It has the ability to penetrate the so-called blood-brain barrier and is readily transformed into glutamic Acid, which is essential for cerebral function. In other words, this amino acid is used as brain fuel. L-glutamine is an essential dietary component which nourishes cells in the gastro-intestinal lining, liver and immune system. It also preserves liver glutathione after hepatic injury. Milk Thistle - Contains some of the most potent liver protecting substances known. One of the active phytochemicals called Sylimarin prevents free radical damage in the liver and kidneys. It also stimulates new liver cells and is an excellent immune system builder. N acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is the best dietary source for glutathione production. It is a main precursor for the manufacture of glutathione (GSH). N-acetyl d-glucosamine (NAG) is a key precursor in the biosynthesis of mucosal glycoproteins. Quercitin plays a critical role in regenerating glutathione and helps to eliminate toxic compounds found in the liver. Cordyceps functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It has also been shown to increase liver energy and glutathione synthesis. In MaxGXL, however, its primary function is to reduce inflammation and free radicals by decreasing the thermostat for inflammation called nuclear factor kappa beta.
    There are countless natural ingredients and herbs that have health promoting potential that are available without a prescription and one can research them to see which is appropriate for their unique condition.