[RandyK]

For my PN I have been "Rx'd" Alpha Lipoic Acid 800mg three times daily before meals. I was told that it takes 3 months before this supplement starts helping. By the way, the tablets I have include Biotin 800 mcg.

Personnally, I gave this a try and found that it did not do anything except give me a very acidy-feeling stomach which I did not like.

Has Alpha Li[oic Acid helped anyone?

Thanks,

Randy

[Chemar]

hello Randy

i know nothing about alpha lipoic acid and PN, but I do know of its use as a mercury chelation supplement and was cautioned by our physician to be very careful as to when to use it, as it binds mercury in the body and can then cross the blood brain barrier, so carrying the mercury into the brain

so do be sure you dont have any source of mercury toxicity if you are using ALA

[mrsD]

Alpha lipoic is an older form. It is not all active, as it contains an inactive isomer. (there is one study showing alpha MAY suppress thyroid function--but only in rats so far)

Many of us use r-lipoic which is far more potent. This allows for much lower doses... like 100mg a day.

Now that it is economically more available, you might want to try that.

Alpha is in the literature in high dose going back almost a decade.

The r-lipoic is newer.

If you decide to try it, start at 50mg a day. It can be very stimulating, and some people don't like that effect. I used 50mg a day (I bought a tablet type--and cracked them in half) and raised to 100mg and took that for a year. I haven't continued, because I did not see much effect. For me the burning is almost gone if I avoid potatoes (nightshade veggie which triggers me).

But lipoic acid is included in "anti-aging and longevity" formulas to enhance acetyl carnitine and reduce mitochondrial decay. Biotin is often included with that mixture. Dr. Bruce Ames has a product called Juvenon, which has a website with alot of medical detail.
You might want to read that:
http://juvenon.com/
Dr. Ames is a famous biochemist in US, and has many many papers on PubMed. The site is worth reading, just for its collection of knowledge. (Our FDA still uses the Ames Test to screen new compounds for carcinogenicity.)

[Electron]

Alpha-lipoic acid reduces the pain level of my PN (hereditary, idiopathic). My pain level increases within a few days if I stop taking it. I take 600 mg/day of Jarrow "alpha-lipoic sustain," have been for a few years. It has a very short half-life in the blood so the sustained release may help. But since mrsD mentioned the r-lipoic, I should give that a try. From what I have read, ALA is commonly used by those with diabetic PN. The studies tend to be done with either 600mg or 1200mg and as I recall, there was not much benefit going to 1200mg. I have experienced no side effects from it.
Electron

[RandyK]

Thanks Electron!