R-Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg 90 caps
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R-Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg 90 caps |
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AST200 $33.71
Mitochondrial Anti-oxidant Major Benefit: Fights premature aging Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a unique, vitamin-like antioxidant that can protect against oxidative processes that promote premature aging and degenerative diseases. ALA is becoming increasingly recognized as a 'mitochondrial antioxidant.' (R)-lipoic acid is a more biologically active form of ALA that offers greater antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits at substantially lower doses than the synthetic forms of lipoic acid currently available. Water and Fat Soluble Antioxidant Researchers discovered that ALA is, in fact, an essential coenzyme with a vital role in mitochondrial electron transport reactions involved in converting glucose into ATP to produce energy. By 1988 researchers had also learned that ALA is a powerful biological antioxidant, although one with some very unique health properties. What most impressed researchers was the discovery that ALA functions as both a fat and water-soluble antioxidant that can easily cross cell membranes. Thus, ALA can confer free radical protection to both interior and exterior cellular structures. Regeneration of Other Antioxidants: Vitamins A and C Human aging is marked by a decline in the concentration, synthesis and recycling of central antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, co-enzyme Q-10 and glutathione. This loss of antioxidant function impairs the body's ability to control free radicals. Left unchecked, free radicals—dangerous, unpaired electrons—move throughout the body, damaging cell membranes and organs, impairing immune function, damaging DNA strands and contributing to the progression of cancer and other degenerative diseases. In recent years researchers have shown how alpha-lipoic acid recycles vitamins E and C to stave off free radical damage. Vitamins E, C and glutathione work in concert to control free radicals and prevent cellular damage. But this is also an important stage where the antioxidant regeneration cycle runs into a limiting factor determined by the availability of glutathione. Glutathione is the most important member of the thiol group and the body's primary intracellular antioxidant. In addition to being an important free-radical deactivator, glutathione also plays a vital role in protecting against cataract formation, enhancing immune function, preventing liver damage, slowing the initiation of cancers and eliminating heavy metals. Glutathione, when taken orally, is broken down in the stomach before reaching the bloodstream. What does end up being absorbed can raise serum levels, but the effect inside of cells is minimal. This problem was solved when Dr. Lester Packer, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory at the University of California and his team turned to ALA. 'Alpha-lipoic acid proved to be the missing link,' Packer said. They discovered that in addition to being a powerful antioxidant in its own right, ALA is able to raise intracellular glutathione levels. ALA is easily absorbed when taken orally, and once inside cells it is quickly converted to its most potent form, dihydrolipoic acid, an even more potent free-radical neutralizer. ALA also is important in cell metabolism and is required for production of energy inside cells. Without ALA, cells could not metabolize sugars for energy and would just shut down. This makes alpha-lipoic acid a metabolic antioxidant, able to draw on the cell's own metabolism to magnify its protective effects and that of other antioxidants.
References1. Packer L, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K.
Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Free Radic Biol
Med 1997;22(1-2):359-78.
As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule three times daily with meals.
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This page was last modified on Friday December 30, 2011 |
