Alpha Lipoic Acid, Antioxidant Dietary Supplement - Reviews, Dosage

Alpha Lipoic Acid 250mg is a dietary supplement containing alpha-lipoic acid, a sulphur-containing antioxidant present in all prokaryotic (unicellular) and eukaryotic (multicellular) organisms. The human body is able to synthesise it from fatty acids and cysteine, but only in very small amounts (1).

Alpha Lipoic Acid 250mg contains the R form, the one produced naturally, and the S form, presumed inactive, in equal amounts. Two other supplements in our catalogue contain the natural form only: R-Lipoic Acid 100mg and Sodium R-Lipoate 300mg, a version with enhanced bioavailability.

What are alpha-lipoic acid’s properties?

Alpha-lipoic acid plays a role in regulating genes associated with antioxidant and inflammation pathways (2). As an enzymatic co-factor, it plays a key role in energy metabolism (3) and maximises the potency of vitamins C and E.

It exists in 2 forms: the R form (produced naturally by the body) and the S form (which appears to be inactive in the body). In the process of manufacturing alpha-lipoic acid, both forms are produced in equal amounts.

Supplements which contain the R form only are therefore more expensive to produce as they require the additional and costly step of eliminating all the S form molecules.

Are there any foods rich in alpha-lipoic acid?

There are very few good dietary sources: offal (particularly liver), a few green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, and yeast.

It’s thought 200mg-600mg of alpha-lipoic acid in supplements (1 to 2 capsules of Alpha Lipoic Acid) provides 1000 times more alpha-lipoic acid than can be obtained from the diet (4).

When and how should you take the supplement Alpha Lipoic Acid 250mg?

It’s important to take it in between, rather than with, meals as its bioavailability is significantly reduced by other nutrients and micronutrients. Once ingested, it reaches the intestinal barrier where it monopolises two main transporters to enable it to reach various tissues (5). It is therefore broken down very quickly with a half-life of around 30 minutes (6).

Alpha-lipoic acid is highly-sensitive to heat, light and humidity: it’s therefore essential to store it in a cool, dry place away from light.

Are there any risks associated with taking alpha-lipoic acid?

Clinical trials have shown no side-effects from daily doses of up to 2400mg a day, taken over extended periods (7).

Which other supplements can be combined with alpha-lipoic acid?

Other ‘innovative’ antioxidant supplements which can be taken alongside alpha-lipoic acid include:

• FPP, a fermented papaya extract;
• N-Acetyl Cysteine 600mg, a glutathione precursor;
• SOD-Gliadins Complex, a superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplement.

Updated: 01/02/2019

Notes

This product should not be used to replace a varied, balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. Follow the advice on use, the recommended daily dose and the use-by date. Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for children under 15. Keep out of young children’s reach. Store in a cool, dry place.

1. Carreau JP. Biosynthesis of lipoic acid via unsaturated fatty acids. Methods Enzymol. 1979;62:152-8.
2. Packer L, Witt H, Trischler HJ. Alpha-Lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Freed Radic. Biol. Med., 1995, 19, 227-250.
3. Reed, LJ. A trail of research from lipoic acid to alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes. J Biol. Chem., 2001, 276, 38329-38336
4. Singh and Jialal, Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation and diabetes. Nutr Rev. 2008 Nov;66(11):646-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00118.x.
5. Chng HT, New LS, Neo AH, Goh CW, Browne ER, Chan EC. Distribution study of orally administered lipoic acid in rat brain tissues. Brain Res. 2009 Jan 28;1251:80-6. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.11.025. Epub 2008 Nov 19.
6. Breithaupt-Grogler, Dose-proportionality of oral thioctic acid--coincidence of assessments via pooled plasma and individual data. Eur J Pharm Sci. 1999 Apr;8(1):57-65.
7. Goraca, Huk-Kolega et al. Lipoic acid - biological activity and therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Rep. 2011;63(4):849-58.