Dr Vera's R-alpha Lipoic #1453270972

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Dr Vera's R-alpha Lipoic

Excipients
Colloidal silica, glycine, vegetable capsules

Pack size
50 Capsules

Dosage
1-2 capsules per day, or as prescribed

Indications
* Possesses antioxidant properties
* Supports healthy mitochondrial function

Interactions
Lipoic acid may bind and chelate iron; use with caution in those prone to iron deficiency.

Contraindications
Use with caution in patients taking thyroid medication and/or diabetic medication.

Each capsule contains:
Biotin 150µg
R-alpha lipoic Acid 100mg

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
R-alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA)
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a water and fat soluble antioxidant, which enables it to work both inside the cell membrane and the intracellular spaces. Conventional chemical synthesis of ALA results in a 50/50 (racemic) mixture of the two optical isomers, R-alpha lipoic acid (R-ALA) and S-alpha lipoic acid (S-ALA). Of the two isomers, only the R-isomer of ALA is natural and it is this form that is utilised by the body as a cofactor in mitochondrial energy metabolism. The racemic mixture of ALA exhibits approximately 40% of the activity exhibited by R-ALA, and S-ALA shows very little activity.[9]
Alpha lipoic acid is rapidly taken up by body cells and reduced to alpha-dihydrolipoic acid intracellularly, which itself exhibits antioxidant properties. R-ALA is reduced to DHLA, 28 times faster than S-ALA. [10]

Antioxidant
Lipoic acid is effective against the hydroxyl, hypochlorous acid and single oxygen free radical. In the body, lipoic acid is converted to dihydrolipoic acid, which also scavenges peroxyl and other types of free radicals.
By extending the life of other antioxidants such as vitamin C [11] and glutathione,[12] it increases the antioxidant potential of these nutrients so they can continue to protect against free radical damage. This property of quenching free radicals in both the water and lipid phase, makes lipoic acid effective in many diseases. It is known for instance that the "peroxynitrite radical" plays a crucial role in asthma, Rheumatoid arthritis[13] and cardiovascular disease. Lipoic acid and its dihydrolipoic acid derivative is a powerful quencher of this "peroxynitrite."[14]

Ischemic reperfusion injury in humans occurs in conditions such as a stroke, cardiac arrest, subarachnoid haemorrhage or head trauma. Maximal tissue injury is observed during reperfusion, which is primarily attributed to oxidative injury, resulting from the production of oxygen and peroxynitrite free radicals. This is associated with the depletion of cellular antioxidants; particularly glutathione, which leads to the oxidation of protein thiols to disulfide, and to the loss of activity of critical enzymes having active thiol groups e.g. Coenzyme A. The maintenance of thiol homeostasis is an important factor in cell survival. The thiol antioxidant, lipoic acid, not only mops up the free radicals produced during ischemic injury but also improves glutathione synthesis. Lipoic acid can reduce hypoxic and exotoxic neuronal damage and is effective in numerous neurodegenerative disorders.

Insulin Resistance:
Lipoic acid improves cellular uptake of glucose as well as improving insulin sensitivity. It reduces the binding of glucose to albumin; thus reducing glycosylation.
Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to reduce body weight and prevent the development of diabetes.[15] Lipoic acid acts at the level of insulin signalling to enhance glucose transport in insulin resistant skeletal muscle.[9]

Mitochondrial Dysfunction:
Alpha lipoic acid improves cellular mitochondrial energetics and thus ATP synthesis. Mitochondrial decay has been postulated to be a significant underlying part of the ageing process. Decline in mitochondrial function may lead to cellular energy deficits, especially in times of greater energy demand, and may compromise vital ATP-dependent cellular operations, including detoxification, repair systems, DNA replication and osmotic balance. Age-related decrement in enzymes and electron chain complexes have been seen. One study supplemented alpha lipoic acid with carnitine, results of which brought the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes from depletion to near normal levels.[16] Through its well established antioxidant properties, lipoic acid may also protect the mitochondria from free radical damage.

Heavy Metal Toxicity
R-alpha lipoic acid also acts as a metal chelator particularly of mercury, cadmium, copper and iron, i.e. it is a metal chelating antioxidant. Lipoic acid has been shown to increase glutathione levels to support the mobilisation and excretion of mercury. Lipoic acid itself also appears to possess direct heavy metal binding effects. [17]
The ability of free alpha lipoic acid to cross the blood brain barrier is significant in heavy metal detoxification, as mercury and lead readily accumulate in the brain and are stored intracellularly in glial tissue.[18]

Eye Function
Lipoic acid may protect against the development of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. In particular, studies have been performed examining the protective properties of lipoic acid against diabetic complications of the eye. [19]

Biotin
Biotin is a water soluble vitamin, generally grouped with the B vitamins. In its physiologically active form, biotin is attached at the active site of four important enzymes known as carboxylases. Each carboxylase catalyses an essential metabolic reaction.
Biotin and lipoic acid have structural similarities, and together with pantothenate, use the same sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter.[20] Chronic administration of lipoic acid has been shown to lower the activity of biotin-dependent carboxylase enzymes in vivo by competing with biotin. When lipoic acid was supplemented in conjunction with biotin, carboxylase activities remained normal.