Alpha lipoic acid - indications, treatment, side effects

Alpha lipoic acid is a fatty acid containing sulfur. In its natural (R) form, it occurs as a coenzyme in the power plants of every human cell (called mitochondria) and plays an important role in providing energy to the body. Since we only absorb a small amount of alpha lipoic acid through foods like spinach, potatoes, and red meat, researchers recommend extra intake.

Areas of application

Alpha Lipoic Acid is as.
Food supplement
available. Many supplements are synthetic and contain a mixture of R- and S- alpha lipoic acid. The naturally occurring form R-alpha lipoic acid is decisively better absorbed. This natural form is also available as a supplement. Alpha lipoic acid supplements are rapidly absorbed, metabolized and excreted.

Because of their short residence time in the body, lipoic acid supplements should therefore be taken in doses throughout the day. The intake of 3 x 350mg oral dose is ideal. As with vitamin C, high doses are much more effective when given throughout the day. Oral doses can reduce oxidative stress. Basically, lipoic acid supplements act as effective antioxidants.

alpha lipoic acid - why is it so important?

Unlike other antioxidants, lipoic acid is both fat and water soluble. Thus, it can protect the more watery cell areas, blood and extracellular space as well as the fatty cell parts (e.g. the cell walls, membranes), lipoproteins in the blood or also the fatty nerve sheaths from oxidation.

Better the best quality than a cheap product

Vigilance is required here. Alpha Lipoic Acid by Viptamin contains 100 capsules with 350 mg lipoic acid each. The package price is €39.70. For this price you get 35 grams of natural alpha lipoic acid. Converted, the price per gram of lipoic acid in this case is therefore 1.13 €.

Significantly cheaper offers are also available on the market. The current cheapest offer is €16.80 per pack. However, if you look closely, you will notice that the cheap package only contains 60 capsules with 200 mg lipoic acid each. I.e. for 16,80 € you get 12 grams of (artificial!) lipoic acid. Converted, the price per gram of lipoic acid in the “cheap offer” is therefore 1.40 €. In addition, this is inferior artificial lipoic acid, which is sold here in reality significantly more expensive than the high-quality agent of Viptamin.
Note: Also with alpha lipoic acid applies: Who buys cheap, buys twice.

Now the natural Buy Alpha Lipoic Acid by Viptamin!

Chemical structure

Alpha lipoic acid contains 2 sulfur atoms that can be reversibly oxidized and reduced. In addition to its antioxidant properties, alpha lipoic acid is a co-factor for several essential enzymes. There are two optical isomers of alpha lipoic acid that have different properties:

R- Alpha lipoic acid
S- alpha lipoic acid

The term “optical isomers” refers to one of the main differences between the two forms: they direct polarized light in opposite directions. Chemically, they are identical and can only be separated with difficulty. But such molecules are mirror images of each other, like the right and left hands of a pair of gloves.
When alpha lipoic acid is made in the lab, the result is a 50/50 mix of the R and S forms. However, in living systems, optical isomers usually occur in only one form.

Why R-alpha lipoic acid is better than S-alpha lipoic acid

Most (less expensive) alpha lipoic acid supplements consist of a small amount of R(+) alpha lipoic acid (the natural, endogenous form) and often over 90% S(-) alpha lipoic acid (the synthetic isomer). The difference between the two alpha lipoic acid forms is their three-dimensional structure:

From the customer’s point of view, a dietary supplement containing pure endogenous R-alpha lipoic acid is therefore preferable to a dietary supplement containing a 1:1 mixture of natural and synthetic alpha lipoic acid.

However, manufacturers and distributors often prefer the L-form because the manufacturing cost of pure R(+) alpha lipoic acid is 11 times higher than the manufacturing cost of a 50-50 mixture of R- and S-form.

Study evidence for the above graph

1. magis D et al. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of thioctic acid in migraine prophylaxis. Headache. 2007;47(1):52-7

2 Shay KP et al. Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 2009;1790:1149-1160

Bharat S et al: Pre-teatment with R-lipoic acid alleviates the effects of GDH depletion in PC12 cells: implications for Parkinson’s disease therapy. Neurotoxicology 2002;23(4-5):479-86

4 Lovell MA et al. Protection against amyloid beta peptide and iron/hydrogen peroxide toxicity by alpha lipoic acid. J. Alzheimer Dis. 2003;5(3):229-39

5 Frank B et al. A review of antioxidants and Alzheimer disease. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2005;17(4):269-86

6 Hager K et al. Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease – a 48 months follow-up analysis. J Neural Transm Suppl. 2007;(72):189-93

7. Maczurek A et al. Lipoic acid as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2008;60(13-14):1463-70.

8 Packer L et al. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Free Radic Biol Med. 1997;22(1-2):359-78

9 Packer L. Alfa-Lipoic acid: A metabolic antioxidant which regulates NF-kappa B signal transduction and protects against oxidative injury. Drug Metab Rev. 1998;30(2):245-275

10. alpha-lipoic acid. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2006;11(3):232-237

11 Kojima M et al. Effect of alpha-lipoic acid against diabetic cataract in rats. Jpn J Opthalmol. 2007;51(1):10-3

12. Filina AA et al. Lipoic acid as a means of metabolic therapy of open-angle glaucoma. Vestn Oftalmol. 1995;111:6-8

13 Femiano F et al. Burning mouth syndrome: open trial of psychotherapy alone, medication with alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid), and combination therapy. Med Oral. 2004;9(1):8-13

14 Femiano F et al. Burning mouth syndrome: the efficacy of lipoic acid on subgroups. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004;18(6):676-8

15 Sola S et al. Irbesartan and lipoic acid improve endothelial function and reduce markers of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: results of the Irbesartan and Lipoic Acid in Endothelial Dysfunction (ISLAND) study. Circulation. 2005;111:343-348

16 McMackin CJ et al. Effect of combined treatment with alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine on vascular function and blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2007;9:249-255

17. Cho YS et al. alpha-Lipoic acid inhibits airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;114(2):429-35

18. alpha-lipoic acid. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2006;11(3):232-237

19 Goraca A et al. Lipoic acid – biological activity and therapeutic potential. Parmacological Reports 2011;63:849-858

20 Huerta-Olvera SG et al. Alpha-lipoic acid regulates heme oxygenase gene expression and nuclear Nrf2 activation as a mechanism of protection against arsenic exposure in HepG2 cells. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2010;29(2):144-149

21. el-Beshbishy HA et al. Abrogation of cisplatininduced nephrotoxicity in mice by alpha lipoic acid through ameliorating oxidative stress and enhancing gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. Eur J Pharmacol. 2011;668:278-284

22 Kim E et al. A preliminary investigation of alfa-lipoic acid treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2008;28(2):138- 4628

23 Ziegler D et al. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy with the antioxidant alfa-lipoic acid. A 3-week multicentre randomized controlled trial (ALADIN Study). Diabetologia. 1995;38:1425-1433

24 Shay KP et al. Alpha-lipoic acid as a dietary supplement: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 2009;1790:1149-1160

25 Goraca A et al. Lipoic acid – biological activity and therapeutic potential. Parmacological Reports 2011;63:849-858

26. alpha-lipoic acid. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2006;11(3):232-237

27 Poh ZA et al. A current update on the use of alpha lipoic acid in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2009;9(4):392-8

28. alpha-lipoic acid. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2006;11(3):232-237

29 Ziegler D et al. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy with the antioxidant alfa-lipoic acid. A 3-week multicentre randomized controlled trial (ALADIN Study). Diabetologia. 1995;38:1425-1433

30 Ziegler D et al. Alfa-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes. 1997;46(suppl 2):S62- S66

31 Ziegler D et al. The ALADIN III Study Group. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alfa-lipoic acid: a 7-month multicenter randomized controlled trial (ALADIN III Study). Diabetes Care. 1999;22:1296—1301

Buy the story

So you see: quality has its price. And yet, at second glance, the use of high-quality, natural lipoic acid even gives you a financial advantage over products from conventional manufacturers!

Natural alpha lipoic acid

39,70€

available immediatelySaver subscription

One time delivery 43,70€

Add to cart Buy now

Subscriptionalways on time replenishment - can be cancelled immediately je 41,70€

Take out the Bio Protein saver subscription now and save 5%!
This subscription can be cancelled at any time.

Free from microcrystalline cellulose No additives 100% vegan 100% natural Body R-shape

100 capsules, enough for 33 days

Buy the story

So you see: quality has its price. And yet, at second glance, the use of high-quality, natural lipoic acid even gives you a financial advantage over products from conventional manufacturers!

Natural alpha lipoic acid

39,70€

available immediatelySaver subscription

One time delivery 43,70€

Add to cart Buy now

Subscriptionalways on time replenishment - can be cancelled immediately je 41,70€

Take out the Bio Protein saver subscription now and save 5%!
This subscription can be cancelled at any time.

Free from microcrystalline cellulose No additives 100% vegan 100% natural Body R-shape

100 capsules, enough for 33 days

We have even more products on offer - for all those who strive for optimum health, e.g. you can buy our high-quality ubiquinol or take a look at all the products in the range.
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Alpha lipoic acid - indications, treatment, side effects

Areas of application

alpha lipoic acid - why is it so important?

Better the best quality than a cheap product

Now the natural Buy Alpha Lipoic Acid by Viptamin!

Chemical structure

Why R-alpha lipoic acid is better than S-alpha lipoic acid

Study evidence for the above graph

Buy the story

Natural alpha lipoic acid

Buy the story

Natural alpha lipoic acid

Our blog

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