R-Alpha Lipoic Acid is a coenzyme used in energy production in cellular metabolism and functions as an ideal antioxidant. One of the unique features of lipoic acid is that has both water-soluble and membrane-soluble characteristics, enabling it to reduce oxidized antioxidants at the lipid/water interface.

Compared with the S(-) Form, R( ) Lipoic Acid is Far Superior: Some studies have compared the effects of the two “lipoic acid” molecules seperately. R ( ) lipoic acid has emerged as the active ingredient in the racemate. R ( ) lipoic acid fights all of the major effects of glucose regulating hormone resistance. The S(-)-form does not help in some of these areas, and even makes things worse in others.

Health Benefits May Include:

• Antioxidant: Lipoic acid is known as a powerful and versatile antioxidant. R ( ) lipoic acid is more easily absorbed and taken into the cells than S (-) lipoic acid. Peak plasma concentration of R( )-Lipoic Acid has been found to be 40-50% higher than S(-)-lipoic acid. Both forms of lipoic acid can be made more powerful by “charging” them up into their active DHLA form. R ( ) -lipoic acid is “upgraded” much more rapidly than S(-)-lipoic acid. Many studies have found that R ( ) lipoic acid provides much more effective protection than S (-) lipoic acid or the racemate. In some cases, the S (-) lipoic acid actually counteracts the effects of R ( ) lipoic acid.
• Heavy Metal Detoxification: R-alpha-lipoic acid also acts as a metal chelating agent which explains the usefulness of lipoic acid for the detoxification in heavy metal poisoning.
• Glucose Metabolism and Weight Management – Using a Higher Dosage May Be More Effective: Lipoic acid has been used to support healthy blood sugar metabolism. glucose regulating hormone resistance, in which the cells of the body stop responding properly to the hormone to remove glucose from blood, happens to some degree in almost all of us as we age. This causes higher levels of blood sugar, and free fatty acids, all of which are threats to your health. Higher bolus dosages of lipoic acid have been proven to benefit those with blood sugar control problems as well as for managing diabetic neuropathy.
• A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of oral supplementation of DL-alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on glycemic and oxidative status in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients was conducted. Thirty eight outpatients with type 2 DM were recruited and randomly assigned to either placebo or treatment in various doses of ALA (300, 600, 900, and 1200 mg/day) for 6 months. Following the treatment, all subjects were evaluated for glucose status and oxidative biomarkers. Results showed that fasting blood glucose trended to decrease in a dose-dependent manner. High dosages such as these have been safely used over extended periods of time in research studies as long as two years. Another study used a dosage of 600mg given two times per day and was shown to significantly improve the symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy in 73% of the 236 patients enrolled in the study. 
• A study investigating the effects of ALA supplements on weight loss found that ALA can be used as an adjunctive treatment for obesity. Over a period of 20 weeks, the randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study enrolled 360 obese individuals whom also had hypertension, diabetes and or high cholesterol levels. Subjects were divided into either treatment groups that received 1200 or 1800 mg/day of ALA or were given a placebo. The group that took the higher level of ALA experienced a 5% decrease in total body weight while the 1200mg/day group also experienced weight loss, although it was less statistically significant. A new study showed that when combined with a calorie-restricted diet, even 300 mg/day of alpha-lipoic acid over 10 weeks is effective in reducing body weight and supporting fat loss, especially around the belly and hips. 
• Neurological Health: Lipoic acid is known for its ability to protect brain and nerve cells from free radicals and toxins. Excessive levels of “transition metals” such as iron, copper, and cadmium are believed to play an important role in many neurological disorders. Having too much free iron in a key part of the brain has been implicated as a cause of Parkinson’s disease, for example. In fact, a recent study showed that older people with Alzheimer’s disease had higher accumulation of iron in the hippocampus, while older healthy people did not have this accumulation. The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning and is highly affected early in Alzheimer’s disease.
• R ( ) lipoic acid supplements partially reverse the age-associated loss of spatial and temporal memory seen in old animals. An animal study using R ( ) lipoic acid found that it was able to significantly reduce age-related buildup of iron in the brain. Other studies suggest that S (-) lipoic acid will not work as well.
• Macular Degeneration: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a concern for many people as they advance in age. A study conducted in 62 patients with early and intermediate AMD were assigned to either a treatment or a placebo group. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant increase in serum antioxidant Super Oxide Dismutase activity after the lipoic acid intervention. The increase in SOD activity caused by LA supplementation indicates that LA may have a possible preventive effect in the development of AMD through an antioxidant mechanism. 
• Mitochondrial Function: The biggest source of free radicals in your body are your cellular “power plants,” the mitochondria. They are both the origin, and the target, of most of the free radical damage in the body. As we age, our mitochondria become less and less efficient, generating less and less energy while creating more and more free radicals. R ( ) lipoic acid, in animal experiments and in test-tube studies, makes mitochondria more efficient, so that they produce more energy and create fewer free radicals. Age-associated damage to mitochondrial structure is significantly reduced. S (-) lipoic acid does not have these effects, and may antagonize the action of R ( ) lipoic acid. These benefits have a real impact on the organism. Animals undergoing a simulated heart attack recover heart function more rapidly when infused with R ( ) lipoic acid; S (-) lipoic acid has no such effect. Animals who receive R ( ) lipoic acid supplements look better and are more active. 
• Longevity: Nearly all researchers into the biology of aging agree that the decay of mitochondrial function is a major engine of the aging process. Caloric restriction, with adequate nutrition, is the only proven way to slow down the fundamental aging process in mammals. Many of the benefits of R( ) lipoic acid closely mimic those of caloric restriction. R ( ) lipoic acid’s effects on mitochondrial function are the most striking and unique parallel. A study in a short-lived strain of mouse demonstrated that R ( ) lipoic acid can dramatically increase its lifespan. Neither S (-) lipoic acid, nor the racemate, had any significant effect. The National Institutes on Aging are currently funding studies to see if R ( ) lipoic acid can truly slow down the aging process. 
• Other: R-alpha-lipoic acid is also indicated for several pathologies that include: Arteriosclerosis, Arthritis, Cancer, Ischemia-reperfusion injury, Chronic and Acute Inflammation, Apoptosis, HIV infection, Heavy metal chelation. For diabetes patients, R-alpha-lipoic acid ameliorates glucose regulating hormone sensitivity in type II diabetes and also offers protection against: Neuropathy, Cardiovascular Disease, Cataracts.

With or Without Food? Higher amounts of lipoic acid are absorbed when the supplement is taken on an empty stomach. When taken with food, the peak plasma lipoic acid concentration was reduced by approximately 20% as compared to fasting plasma levels.