Can someone tell me the differences/ benefits etc of alpha lioric acid and R-liporic acid ? There is so much info and both that trying to really see what works best for Idiopathic Small Nerve Fiber Neuropathy plus also being recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes ( right on the edge of pre) , I want to take which ever one is the best to help both plus some of the other supplements I's trying to help. I've read about the Nerve Formula ( or neuropathy formula ad on web) also that seems to have lots of the things I'm taking but it is all in one . As i hope it all can help the burning feet and legs in the long run.

This is the thread that discovers and discusses the merits of
all 3 versions of lipoic acid:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...light=Blaylock

Is this the product?
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...nYQqjt1NdLiahg

If so you have to take 2 capsules to get what is listed.
If you decide to do this you should take them on an empty stomach to get full benefit. This product has the old alpha lipoic in it, does not tell how much, and therefore you won't know how much you are getting. Several things listed in that last proprietary mixture are also not detailed as to quantity.
Places that do this are not user friendly. You won't know what is working for you IF you get a response.

It is your money and decision after all.

It would cost you about 30 cents a day to take FIVE milligrams of methylcobalamin daily compared to this mixture which is only a vitamin pill with 1mg methyl B12. The rest is questionable because the doses of the important items like acetyl carnitine and alpha lipoic acid are not listed.

no the pill i saw ad for was neuropathy support formula , it had the benofatamine , alpha lipoic acid and lots of the B's just wonder if any one knew about it . I've seen something somewhere that some found good results with it .

This one?
http://neuropathytreatmentgroup.com/#

This one is a bit better. However, it does not detail what type of R-lipoic is in there.

If it is the older form, that is not very soluble. I was using it for a long time (Source Naturals) and not getting much in the way of improvements. Switching to the Stabilized form has been better for me.

The only caveat I have about this product is that you must take it on an empty stomach for best results. Both the B12 and R-lipoic are better absorbed that way.

It is you choice after all.

If you scroll down to the breakdown of the ingredients at the bottom:
This is not really accurate.
Benfotiamine by Doctor's best does not cost $50.00
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-B...3620371&sr=8-1
120 caps is 2 months supply at 300mg a day=$15.87
Doctor's Best R-lipoic acid stablized is $15.29 for 60 which is a 2 months' supply.
The B12 from Puritan's is 5mg is 60/12.99 which is 2 months worth.
http://www.puritan.com/vitamin-b-12-...000-mcg-032860

The rest of the ingredients of this product are commonly in most multivits and the doses in the Support formula.

So if you want to spend the big bucks, and get it all in one you will have to accept that you will need to take it on an empty stomach, and that the lipoic may not work for you.

The major problem with shot gun mixtures that are fixed in dose is that you cannot tailor doses to meet your own needs.
One mixture does not help everyone equally. And many of these products advertise quite a bit and you pay for the advertising.
Buying your own, bypasses that cost addition.

Products like this, and the vitamins in general only help those low in those ingredients. If you are not low in B12, taking more may not work. The same goes for the benfotiamine.

I cannot comment on the herbs...and I really don't like them in there. Some people may react to them, and therefore think the whole supplement is useless. I don't suggest herbs here for that reason, as there are no studies to speak of for using them for PN. Herbs may interact with medications you are taking as well.

Now how does taking any of these on a empty stomach affect your stomach, does it cause any stomach issues. I'm already on nexium for acid reflux so I'm not sure if i need to take it before or after i take my Nexium. Nexium blocks the stomach from absorbing lots of things and I've often wondered if it is not the problem when I"ve had low Vit D as my body can't absorb due to the nexium blocking things i need. I think I won't try the all in one wonder pill just didn't know about it . Thanks for all the really really good advice .

Yes, Nexium blocks B12 because it reduces acid that is needed for intrinsic factor to aid absorption.

When you take B12 extra in this situation, you BYPASS intrinsic factor action, and absorb passively in the small intestine instead.
This is why empty stomach is important as presence of food will impair this second way--the passive absorption.

Nexium works systemically, and should be in your system when you take the supplements from the day before.

The acid blocking drugs impair the absorption of:
B12
folate
Calcium
Magnesium
Iron
zinc

These are the ones so far that have been evaluated.

R-lipoic stabilized is water soluble and a very small amount and should not upset the stomach. The old alpha lipoic racemic mixture had to be used in very high doses, and some people complained about that. Taking the old one also with food reduces its absorption about 30% however.

The stabilized form of R-lipoic is very easy to tolerate because the dose is so much smaller. I take it on an empty stomach just for insurance because the older version showed absorption interference with food.

You should take the B12 and Lipoic on an empty stomach.
All the rest may be taken with food. It does not matter if you take the nexium an hour later.

Great that helps me so much I didn't want to cause a stomach issue and I also didn't want the Nexium to block things i needed. Now is it better for the benfotiamine to be on an empty stomach?

I have not found a food interaction yet with benfotiamine. But it is really easy to tolerate, so you could take it either way.

The only thing I found so far for it, was that benfotiamine is more absorbed than regular B1 thiamine.

Ok just was looking at Amazon , iherb and Puritan. My next question is there was a doctors best best , stablized r-lipoic acid 100 mg, 60 veg caps for 15.29. I was just wondering about that one . Also when you say 120 caps is a 2 month supply for the Benfotiamine is it a 150 mg bottle , taking 1 twice a day there isn't one that comes in 300mg is there ? I know you will be soooooooooooooo glad when you get this old woman straight on all of this but it is all so new to me and I"m still trying to learn. I"m a right brain person as I"m a semi retired art teacher if that gives you a clue lol

here:

http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-B...gie-Caps/39265

You can decide. I prefer the 150mg for maintenance and 300mg to start. You may not need 300mg a day for long.

I can remember when this was not even available in US...had to buy from Germany... and when it did come here it was over $60 a month! Those times are gone, thankfully.