Hi. I am interested in starting lipoic acid in an effort to get some sort of relief for my small fiber neuropathy. I have read a lot of good things about it here and other places. My only hesitation relates to some things I have seen on the internet about lipoic acid potentially not being safe for people with amalgam fillings based on the theory that it could transport mercury from those fillings to the brain maybe? Now there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of info out there to support this, but because I do have a few of these fillings, what I saw was just enough to give me pause.

Bottom line, does anyone on here have any knowledge about how much stock to put into this? Are there any on here who use lipoic acid and who have these amalgam fillings (I would think there would be many as most of us over 30 or so would have some of these fillings). Anyone had, or know anyone has had problems with this?

I don't really want to not give lipoic acid a shot over this issue with it seeming to not have much documented support in the medical community as far as I can tell, but I just wanted to get some info./thoughts about this subject from some on here before I decide, as this board has been a good source of information for me!

Thanks!

This is an excellent question.

And the subject complex.
Firstly is the controversy about mercury in fillings and their removal. From what I can see in studies I've read, it is the removal of the fillings that place a huge load of the metal on the body.
I've seen some pretty dramatic websites with dramatic patient histories. So I do believe in the potential for harm. But I don't think everyone suffers from amalgams equally.

Today I can't really search much now, but I have found a HUGE complex article I will try and get thru before I leave for our 5 wk vacation when I will be off line.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1
This is the big article.

This is another which says lipoic acid is used up by a mercury load:
http://www.mercuryfreenow.com/layperson/symptoms.html

Here is another .... by a respected site:
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/7/6/456.pdf

And this one suggests treatments using lipoic acid:
(has other names, thiotic acid, thiols, etc).
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17408840

When searching PubMed you might use thiotic acid instead of lipoic acid.

At this point, I think using caution, and low doses, and watching your response, is the best way to see how you react. If you improve and are much better, I hardly think you are being poisoned. 100mg a day of the new stablilized form, is not a high dose. The Japanese use lipoic acid heavily, and have done so for years. And they eat alot of fish, and have even had mercury accidents in the past.

I sure don't have any of the signs of mercury toxicity and I have a few big fillings too. My PN is better today than it has ever been. I've been using the stabilized lipoic acid since last year, 100mg a day. (200mg I cannot tolerate..it makes me jittery).

The mention of selenium and zinc is important. I recall reading about a mercury factory where the workers (someplace in Europe) avoided mercury toxicity because of their selenium intake.
example:
http://www.eatingwell.com/diet_healt...st_mercury_tox

One can go bonkers looking at the various sides of this issue.
Mercury from high fructose corn syrup... yes this is a real problem

Mercury from tuna, etc.

Some reports are that mercury toxicity is highest only in new fillings and when they are removed. Grinding teeth, is also supposed to release mercury as well. But I don't know how to evaluate those types of statements either.

Thanks so much for the prompt and detailed response, mrsD. When you refer to the 100mg of the new stabilized form, you are referring to the R-Lipoic, correct?

yes, some of us here now use this form...
affordable and improved solubility.

NaRALA stabilized. Doctor's Best makes one, and several other
companies too. Still take on an empty stomach for best results.

The only option you have is to get mercury testing before and after using if this prospect worries you.

Often there are no absolute answers to a question like this.
It is similar to the vague responses people get with RX drugs too.

Everyone is different in how they respond because of genetics and diet.

Thanks.

Something else I'm trying to get straight on (besides the issue with amalgam fillings and potential lipoic acid interaction)...in reading these studies where lipoic acid was used for people with peripheral neuropathy, it seems to me they frequently cite a 600 mg dosage as the required amount. Just so I'm straight, when they do this, are they referring to 600 mg of regular old Alpha Lipoic Acid or do they mean 600 mg of R-Lipoic Acid? It's been my impression that they mean simply Alpha Lipoic Acid but I might be misinterpreting what I've read in these studies. Another question, I thought I read somewhere that R Lipoic acid has twice the potency of regular Alpha Lipoic. But then I thought I saw on here that one of the stabilized R-Lipoic 100mgs delivered as much as 600 mg of the original Alpha Lipoic. So I'm trying to get a handle on that equation. In other words, how much of the R-Lipoic stabilized do I need to get to match what was used in these scientific studies?

Thanks alot for your and anyone else's help in this learning process for me!

The stabilized form of r-lipoic is very water soluble and for that reason I think it is probably more efficient than the old ALA...which is a mixture of R and S form. The S is supposed to be inactive but no one knows 100% for sure.

I think the estimate for r- lipoic stablized given on some sites, is that it is about 6x more efficient than the old ALA form.

The old form has a study reported on Linus Pauling Institute's website as needing empty stomach use.

If you search here... lipoic acid... you find all our discussions about it. The newest ones have the new stabilized information with links.

There is a link from the manufacturer on one of those threads on absorption.
But we are very busy here with a cat with cancer and getting ready for the trip to the boonies... and I just don't have time or energy to search it again.

The search link is in my signature on each post.

100mg a day is enough for most people.

Thank you so much for all your help, mrsD, and good luck with your cat!

Thank you David. She has had this rare cancer since last July
and has survived much longer than expected.

The Vet said we could take her, after all the blood work came back. But her meow is gone, no sound and her left neck is swollen
which is on side where one of the tumors is... so I'm rushing her back to the Vet early tomorrow morning.

We may have to put her to sleep before we go... that would be terribly traumatic for us, esp hubby who is her main squeeze, but I can't have her suffering and be in the North woods with
Vets that are not close by. Her photos are in my profile album.
She is 14 now. Has had a wonderful life. It is so difficult making this decision! sigh.

I had a cat while I was growing up and putting her down, if that's what you have to do in the near future (I hope not), was tough. I hope she bounces back.

I'm so sorry your cat is having so much trouble and right when you want to leave on vacation. We had to put our 21-year old calico, Cleo, to sleep when she developed a tumor on her lip and was unable to eat. It is a painful situation. The vet did tell us they don't experience pain as we humans do. We will all miss you when you're on your much deserved vacation. Joan