R-lipoic acid is the form of lipoic acid produced naturally by the body. What’s normally used in supplements is a 50/50 mix of R-lipoic and S-lipoic – indeed, the majority of studies showing health benefits for alpha lipoic acid have used this R/S combination. The R form has only recently been available to researchers and industry and we believe it has many advantages over the R/S mix:

• The R-only form was used, in combination with acetyl L-carnitine, in the famous study conducted by Dr Bruce Ames.
• The anti-inflammatory action of the R form may be up to 10 times stronger than that of ordinary alpha lipoic acid.
• The R-only form appears to be responsible for the improvement in glucose metabolism attributed to alpha lipoic acid.

Although, milligram for milligram, R-lipoic acid is 3.7 times more expensive than alpha lipoic acid, its superior biocompatibility and efficacy more than justify this price difference. We will, however, continue to offer both forms, R-lipoic and alpha lipoic, to give our customers the widest possible choice.