This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Different forms of RLA produce dramatically different PK values. Recently, RLA was compared to NaRLA in humans using a simple crossover design.⁴³ This study compared Cmax and AUC values of a pre-dissolved aqueous solution containing 600 mg RLA (as NaRLA) to those of 600 mg RLA in the same subjects. In a single male (subject 1), NaRLA produced Cmax of 14.1 mcg/mL; whereas, RLA resulted in a Cmax of 0.7 mcg/mL (increase of 25.86x). The AUC in the same subject was 5.18 mcg hr/mL for NaRLA versus 1.56 mcg hr/mL for RLA (increase of 3.3x). In a single female (subject 4), Cmax was 18.1 mcg/mL for NaRLA versus 1.01 mcg/mL for RLA (increase of 17.9x) and the AUC was 5.71 mcg hr/mL for NaRLA compared to 2.14 mcg hr/mL for RLA (increase of 2.67x).

NHE wrote:R-liopic acid vs. Na-R-lipoate, is the Na-R-lipoate worth the extra cost?

From: The Plasma Pharmacokinetics of R-(+)-Lipoic Acid Administered as Sodium R-(+)-Lipoate to Healthy Human Subjects.
http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/12/4/343.pdf

Different forms of RLA produce dramatically different PK values. Recently, RLA was compared to NaRLA in humans using a simple crossover design.⁴³ This study compared Cmax and AUC values of a pre-dissolved aqueous solution containing 600 mg RLA (as NaRLA) to those of 600 mg RLA in the same subjects. In a single male (subject 1), NaRLA produced Cmax of 14.1 mcg/mL; whereas, RLA resulted in a Cmax of 0.7 mcg/mL (increase of 25.86x). The AUC in the same subject was 5.18 mcg hr/mL for NaRLA versus 1.56 mcg hr/mL for RLA (increase of 3.3x). In a single female (subject 4), Cmax was 18.1 mcg/mL for NaRLA versus 1.01 mcg/mL for RLA (increase of 17.9x) and the AUC was 5.71 mcg hr/mL for NaRLA compared to 2.14 mcg hr/mL for RLA (increase of 2.67x).

David1949 wrote:That might be good info if any of us knew what "PK values", "Cmax", and "AUC values" mean.

Lipoic acid in human studies

Viatris® (now called Meda Pharma®) provided a tablet formulation containing 600 mg racemic LA (lot # 4E002-1, expiration date 05/07), referred to as Formulation A. Vital Nutrients® (Middletown, CT, USA) provided gelatin capsules containing 300 mg racemic LA (lot # 5G24 expiration 08/07). Each capsule also contained cellulose powder and small amounts of ascorbyl palmitate and silica. This product is referred to as Formulation B. Pure Encapsulations® (Sudbury, MA, USA) provided vegetable capsules containing 600 mg racemic LA (Lot # 3480504 expiration 11/06) referred to as Formulation C. Each 600 mg LA capsule contained 30 mg of ascorbyl palmitate and pine cellulose plant fiber to add to volume.

LA Dosing and PK Sample Collection in MS subjects

The PK studies were performed in MS subjects using a single oral 1200 mg dose of LA, using the randomly assigned formulations, Formulation A, Formulation B or Formulation C. On the day of PK study, patients had to fast from food and beverages (except for water) overnight for at least 10 hours. Patients received a standardized breakfast in the clinic. Immediately following completion of the meal, each patient received LA 1200 mg orally with 240 mls of water.

A lot of people are now taking biotin, which seems to have possibly the same benefits as lipoic acid. The question in my mind - would taking both of them together be beneficial, or might they negate each other?

Shayk wrote:... they used the "r" form of lipoic acid....

Viatris® (now called Meda Pharma®) provided a tablet formulation containing 600 mg racemic LA (lot # 4E002-1, expiration date 05/07)

Shayk wrote: Tzootsi

A lot of people are now taking biotin, which seems to have possibly the same benefits as lipoic acid. The question in my mind - would taking both of them together be beneficial, or might they negate each other?

I have the same question.
I've done alpha lipoic acid for years but have ??? about starting biotin.

More specifically, the investigators hypothesize that high doses of biotin trigger the formation of myelin in oligodendrocytes through its role as a cofactor for ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase). There’s a high level of ACC activity in oligodendrocytes in the brain.

Racemic means its actually contains both the R and L forms in equal proportions, not purely R.

Whereas I think R-ALA is an antioxidant and works by repairing damage caused by free-radicals. On the page below, it talks about a combined effect between ALA and Acetyl-L-carnitine (about half way down the page)

Shayk wrote:I'm missing the "page below"????

He experimented in the lab, trying out various supplements on a group of aging rats. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), which is known for transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria, shored up the membranes and helped repair the DNA, but it didn’t decrease free-radical production. So, he added alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a mitochondrial coenzyme capable of cleaning up the messes free radicals make.

The result? Ames’s older lab rats — who couldn’t run well on a treadmill and couldn’t navigate in a water pool — were rejuvenated. Their running and swimming improved. Their mitochondria became more youthful, too.