Comments on: Alpha-Lipoic Acid Benefits: Skin, Neuropathy, Weight & More

By: Ron Harbut, MD, PhD

Ron Harbut, MD, PhD — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 07:00:20 +0000

I really liked the article by Dr. Novkovic on lipoic acid — especially the benefits regarding pain and inflammation. I am constantly interested in learning how to better treat chronic pain, especially neuropathic pain. Thank you! Ron Harbut MD, PhD.

By: Jerryb

Jerryb — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 16:43:45 +0000

Alpha lipoic acid is the universal multitasking antioxidant powerhouse!
I always use the solubilized European sourced alpha lipoic acid.
It is more bioavailable and easily absorbed by the body.

By: Buck Buchanan

Buck Buchanan — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 22:38:42 +0000

A super valuable resource. I appreciate the dozens of source annotations

By: Em Jay

Em Jay — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 18:25:50 +0000

In reply to Matt. For those with possible heavy metal toxicity from amalgam or other sources, please look up Andy Cutler frequent dose chelation. You can do damage if you have heavy metal toxicity & take ALA infrequently or don't dose on the half life!

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:50:48 +0000

I took only 1 capsule a day for less than 2 weeks and suddenly lost my sense of taste. All food tasted like cardboard. It was alarming! A little research showed that others have had this same side effect, so I immediately stopped taking it. My sense of taste slowly returned to normal.

By: Martin R

Martin R — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 02:44:57 +0000

I think I have constipation with taking ALA. Is this just coincidental or perhaps a head job?

By: Linda v

Linda v — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 01:44:28 +0000

I’ve recently had retinal detachment surgery in 1 severely nearsighted eye, will alpha lipoic acid 600 mg a day help prevent the retinal detachment from reacurring? I’m also drinking a tspn of sole water every morning

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 19:08:09 +0000

lmao @ my comment getting deleted, this place is a joke. I’ll say it again though, this supplement is NOT safe for the vast majority of people. After reading its antioxidant properties here and taking it for several months I developed severe fatigue, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction, hormone dysfunction and other persistent and insidious health issues, including eventually autoimmune disease. I believe that Cutler warnings, as mentioned by others in the comments, are right and only wish I was aware of them back then.

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:27:42 +0000

Confused, would like to proceed but need more information.

By: Lezah

Lezah — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:40:03 +0000

I have a question. ALA burned the walls of my intestinal tract and caused diarrhea. It’s been about a month since I stopped but the diarrhea is slow to subside and there is still a hint of a burning sensation after diarrhea movement. Can’t find any info of others having this experience. Have you heard of it?

I am not diabetic. I took 300 mg of time released ALA, 3 times a day for a month when the burning and diarrhea started. I stopped taking it.

By: eric

eric — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:06:17 +0000

Simple. The R type is the one produced by plants etc the S type is synthetic and was invented in 1952.
All the health benefits and inter action is the R type the S type can’t do this and is usually blended with 50% r type ,if it were not it would do nothing.

By: Gustavo Fernando Lourenço

Gustavo Fernando Lourenço — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 18:42:31 +0000

Hello Joe. I need your help . Can my 6-year-old autistic child take a single dose of R-ALA that you recommended (the R-ALA of life extension) per day? is it 240mg in a single dose per day?

By: Mike C

Mike C — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:53:34 +0000

Berkson, B.M., MD, PhD is a pioneer in the use of Intravenous ALA in his Las Cruces, NM clinic to successfully treat a variety of conditions (see drberkson.com). He recommends the Alpha Lipoic Acid sold by Bio-Tech (simply called “Lipoic”) which is European Sourced. He makes no distinction between R-Lipoic and ALA. He does stress taking the ALA on an empty stomach and with a Mega B Complex vitamin. The metabolism of oral ALA is different when taken with food and less effective, he says. Google Berkson, BM for his peer reviewed articles on the effective use of ALA.

By: Mark shebuski

Mark shebuski — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:02:47 +0000

Where is best place to get R lipoic acid

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:53:26 +0000

I think no one is really answering this, because there are so many variables to the above comments/questions. I too am in this position, after having amalgam fillings removed and seeing a functional medicine doc.

If I understand correctly, the biggest problem for most people is supplement regimens without actually looking at the heavy metal load/levels first. I’ve done this, and from what I can tell my levels aren’t really all that high, but I’m still hesitating on the doc’s recommendation to take ALA right away.

Is there a certain Mercury/aluminum level you would consider safe to begin daily ALA regimine without worrying about the half life/cycling on and off?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 16:45:10 +0000

Thanks Kathy!

By: Kathy Riener

Kathy Riener — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 20:07:59 +0000

I have arthritis in my knee and without lipoic acid I needed a cane, it saved my life. My blood pressure is lower too. No longer take blood pressure medication

By: Michelle Chapman

Michelle Chapman — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 21:20:34 +0000

I’m very interested as well from the above concerns, I’m taking it for kidney health. Along with QoQ10

By: Shalom S Fisher

Shalom S Fisher — Mon, 15 May 2017 03:36:22 +0000

In reply to Alan. I, too, am concerned due to Cutler's warnings and listings on his site of cautionary tales of disasters associated with use of ALA by folks with mercury toxicity in particular finding that the mercury in their bodies is redistributed to their brains! I struggle with a number of heavy metals in excessive levels in my body, including mercury, cadmium, aluminum and lead, sadly. Would love to receive the many benefits listed in this post, if I could be certain that Cutler is not correct in his perception of ALA's dangers.

By: George

George — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:14:16 +0000

In reply to Jerry.

I have doctor’s best Stabilized R-Lipoic acid. My intention is to use it as an antioxidant for my stimulant stack. How dangerous would it be to take a single dosage of it to test its effects on my body?

If the main concern about ALA is heavy metal redistribution, what should I do to prevent it?

I read somewhere that in order to avoid toxicity from heavy metal redistribution, you need to take ALA 3-4 times a day for 3 days, and then take a 3 days break.

I am confused, and mostly because regular ALA has a 3 hours half-life, allegedly, while R-Lipoic acid (which is what I got) supposedly just 14 minutes? Does that mean I have to take even more frequent dosages with R-Lipoic Acid in order to avoid toxicity? And if yes, why does everyone keep recommending R-Lipoic Acid over ALA?

Thanks for the help in advance.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:33:25 +0000

In reply to Alan. Redistribution of mercury from single doses of ALA is a very real thing. I learned this the hard way using it two to three times per day close to fifteen years ago while in graduate school. It caused great exacerbation of MS and other autoimmune problems. This is generally ignored or missed by many people, including practitioners and scientists. The effects can be quite insidious and deeply damaging. Hopefully people like Joseph will take a look to consider this perspective.

By: Larry Rotenberg

Larry Rotenberg — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 20:03:50 +0000

Causes my blood glucose to spike 25% from 6 to 7.5

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 16:16:52 +0000

Hi, what do you think about the therory of Andy Cutler? He says, that ALA in single doses is dangerous and leads to further poisoning.

After I’ve read Cutler, I’m afraid to Alpha Lipoic Acid.