Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid 60 veggie capsules

Manufacturer: Doctors Best

BioEnhanced™ Na-RALA Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid

Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid contains BioEnhanced™ Na-RALA, the sodium salt of R-Lipoic acid (RLA). Pure RLA is a very unstable molecule that has a tendency to polymerize with exposure to heat, light and moisture. RLA is also hygroscopic, or water-seeking. This presents problems for those wishing to supplement with RLA. Any of these conditions can lead to deactivation of the beneficial activity of lipoic acid. Unlike pure RLA, BioEnhanced™ Na-RALA is a stabilized form of RLA that won't degrade at high temperatures, is more bioavailable than regular RLA and has no solvent residues.

Lipoic acid (LA) plays an important role in glucose metabolism and energy production. Because it is soluble in both water and fat, LA is known as the "universal antioxidant." LA occurs in two forms, designated as "R" and "S." Studies suggest that RLA, the natural form, is more biologically active than the S form.

R-Lipoic Acid is chemically considered to be a weak acid. A principle of pharmacology is that salts of weak acids have a much higher solubility in water than the weak acid on its own.¹Supplementing with the sodium salt of RLA increases its solubility and improves its dissolution in the body. This is the principle upon which BioEnhanced™ Na-RALA was founded.

Note: The RLA in this product is stabilized with Na (sodium). However, one serving of this product contains less than 1% of the Daily Value for sodium, an insignificant contribution to dietary sources. Research suggests that sodium may impact blood pressure in some individuals only when it is consumed as sodium chloride (NaCl, table salt) and not in other forms. The sodium in this product is unlikely to affect blood pressure levels.

Effects of Lipoic Acid

Lipoic acid (LA) is a sulfur-containing fatty acid that performs vitamin-like roles in the body. Also known as "thioctic acid," LA functions, in a similar way to B complex vitamins, as a co-enzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates that produces energy inside cells for the body's metabolic needs. LA is required for synthesis of "acetyl CoA," a key metabolite in the cellular process that turns glucose (blood sugar) into energy. Because the body produces LA on its own, it is not classified as a true vitamin. As with other so-called "non-essential" nutrients, however, internal LA production may not always be optimal. Lipoic acid functions as both a water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidant. LA's ability to act upon free radicals in both a watery and fatty environment makes it a highly versatile antioxidant. In the body, alpha-lipoic acid can be converted (reduced) to DHLA, or dihydrolipoic acid. Together, these two forms of LA make up a "redox couple," which means that each form can chemically change into the other and back again. DHLA also functions as an antioxidant.

Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid (100 mg) 60 Veggie Caps

Suitable for vegetarians

• Science-Based Nutrition
• Dietary Supplement
• Featuring NA-RALA
• Defends Against Free Radicals

Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid contains NA-RALA, the potassium salt of R-Lipoic Acid (RLA). RLA is an unstable molecule that degrades quickly. NA-RALA is the stabilized form of RLA, that won't degrade, is more soluble, and has a higher bioavailability. NA-RALA enhances the release of RLA in the body.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a fatty acid that functions like a vitamin. ALA is important in glucose metabolism and cellular energy. ALA is called the "universal antioxidant" because of solubility in water and fat.

ALA occurs in "R" and "S" forms. Studies suggest that RLA, the natural form, is more bioactive than the S form.

Supports the body's defenses against free radicals*Recycles antioxidants such as vitamin C and E*Helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level when used as part of a healthy diet.*

Suggested Adult Use: One to two capsules daily, or as directed by a health care professional. Take with or without food.

Supplement Facts Serving Size: 1 capsule Servings Per Container: 60 servings Amount Per Serving %DVD-Biotin 150 mcg 50%

R-Lipoic acid 100 mg †

(from 143 mg Sodium R-alpha Lipoate (BioEnhanced™ Na-RALA))

† Daily Value not established.** % Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Other Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, calcium silicate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (veggie capsule), magnesium silicate, magnesium stearate (vegetable source).

Contains nothing other than listed ingredients. Expiration Date: Approx. 2 years from the date of purchase.100 mg, 60 Veggie Caps

Benefits

Supports the Body's Defense Against Free Radicals*

Recycles Antioxidant Nutrients such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E*

Helps Maintain a Healthy Blood Sugar Level when used as part of the diet*

Lipoic Acid- the "Universal Antioxidant"

Lipoic Acid is often referred to as the "universal antioxidant" for a number of reasons. This substance has a broad range of antioxidant activity that makes it ideally suited as a potent free radical scavenger. An ideal antioxidant would have the ability to quench a wide variety of free radicals, to support the functioning of other antioxidants, to function in watery and fatty environments, and to be present in tissues, cells and extracellular spaces. Lipoic Acid exceeds these criteria and can thus be considered one of the most potent antioxidants available.

Together, LA and DHLA are ideal for the following reasons:^2,3,4

1) LA is readily converted to DHLA in various tissues.

2) As a pair, LA and DHLA neutralize superoxide, hydroxyl, peroxyl, and hypochlorus radicals.

3) LA and DHLA form stable complexes with metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper and zinc ions.

4) LA and DHLA scavenge free radicals in fatty and watery environments.

5) DHLA recycles other important antioxidants.

DHLA regenerates vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione.

Vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione are key antioxidants that play major roles in the body's defense mechanism. These antioxidants exert their activity by cycling between their oxidized and reduced forms. This is necessary to maintain the balance between oxidation and its reverse--the neutralization of free radicals by antioxidants.

DHLA is an essential component in the interaction between these antioxidants.⁵ Studies show that the addition of lipoic acid to liver tissue results in increased vitamin C levels. It has been found that DHLA is responsible for regenerating vitamin C, which in turn regenerates vitamin E.⁴ DHLA also converts glutathione from its oxidized form back into its free radical scavenging reduced form.^4,6 The LA/DHLA pair is vital for prevention of "oxidative stress," which occurs when the balance is tipped in favor of oxidation in cells.⁵ DHLA helps preserve antioxidants in both the watery cell interior and the fatty structure of cell membranes.⁷ Evidence from animal studies suggests that DHLA protects the brain against free radical damage.⁸ By regenerating vitamin C, E, and glutathione in tissue, LA/DHLA help reestablish the antioxidant/oxidant balance in the body.

Lipoic Acid and Blood Sugar

Lipoic acid is a key factor in the cellular process that metabolizes glucose for energy production. LA's role in blood sugar metabolism is seen in studies on LA and type-2 diabetes. In a small pilot study, thirteen people with type-2 diabetes showed improved utilization of glucose in muscle tissue in response to intravenous administration of LA.⁹ In a larger controlled trial, 74 people with type-2 diabetes took LA in oral doses of 600, 1200 or 1800 mg per day. After 4 weeks, the normal lowering of blood sugar levels in response to insulin improved.¹⁰ In vitro studies have shown that LA has a positive effect on insulin-stimulated uptake of glucose by muscle cells.¹¹

Superiority of the R- form

Lipoic acid comes in two forms, designated as "R-lipoic acid" and "S-lipoic acid." R- and S- lipoic acid are isomers--compounds containing the same atoms with a different arrangement of those atoms in space. R- and S-lipoic acid are optical mirror-images of each other; isomers with this characteristic are called "enantiomers." R-lipoic acid is naturally synthesized by humans, animals and plants. S-lipoic acid is formed during chemical synthesis of alpha lipoic acid, which produces a mixture of the two enantiomers containing equal parts of each.

Pharmacokinetic studies show that R-lipoic acid reaches higher serum levels than the S- form. Following single oral doses of 50 to 600 mg maximum serum levels of LA were 40 to 50% higher with the R-form.¹²

In vitro and animal studies have compared the effects of the two alpha lipoic acid isomers. In many cases the naturally occurring R-lipoic acid has shown greater potency than the S-form. For example, R-lipoic acid decreased cataract formation induced by the toxin buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) in rats, while S-lipoic acid had no effect.¹³ In an in vitro study, brain cells from newborn rats were exposed to two toxins that inhibit synthesis of glutathione, resulting in neuronal degeneration via oxidative stress. Both R- and S-lipoic acid protected cells against oxidative neurotoxicity induced by homocystic acid (HCA). Only R-lipoic acid protected cells against prolonged exposure to BSO.¹⁴

The comparative effects of R- and S- lipoic acid on glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle of rats have also been studied. Zucker obese rats were injected with either the R- or the S- isomers. R- lipoic acid increased insulin-mediated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle, whereas S-lipoic acid had no effect. Additionally, R-lipoic acid stimulated glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis, whereas S-lipoic acid, again, was without effect. Moreover, R-lipoic acid reduced plasma insulin levels, while S-lipoic acid actually increased plasma insulin by 15%. These findings suggest R-lipoic acid alone helps normalize blood glucose in insulin-resistance subjects, although this has yet to be confirmed in humans.¹⁵

Aging is accompanied by a decreased ability of the liver to recycle ascorbic acid following oxidative stress. R-lipoic acid, after two weeks of supplementation to aged rats, reversed the age-related impairment of ascorbic acid recycling and concentration in liver cells.¹⁶ A second study confirmed these results. Researchers determined that an RLA-supplemented diet fed to old rats for two weeks resulted in improved mitochondrial function, decreased free radical damage and increased metabolic rate. Whereas a significant decline was seen in ascorbic acid and glutathione levels in the livers of the control rats, the RLA supplemented group showed no decline in the levels of these critical antioxidants.¹⁷

Safety

Suggested Adult Use: One to two capsules daily, or as directed by a health care professional.

Does Not Contain:milk, egg, wheat, corn, sugar, sweeteners, starch, or preservatives.