Mrs D:

Does R-Lipoic Acid have to be taken on an empty stomach for proper absorbtion?

Thank you!

David

Nice to see you posting again, David...

There are 3 forms of lipoic acid:

1) the mixed racemic form which has to be used in high dose
--- this needs empty stomach.

2) the older R-lipoic acid (non-stablized) is also poorly soluble and empty stomach is best.

3) the newest, solubilized form of R-lipoic called stablized NaRALA... this can be taken with food. Some people get heartburn from this form, so food is recommended for those.
The stabilized form says so right on the label. If you don't see these details, it is probably the older R form that is poorly soluble.

I use the "Doctors Best" brand of 100mg "Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid" featuring "Biohanced Na-RALA", so I guess that I am OK taking with food? If I don't then I tend to get the afore-mentioned heartburn.

Thanks!

David

Yes, you can take with food. I wouldn't with a huge meal but some food may help. I don't know why it is so irritating for some people. 100mg is such a tiny amount. Maybe it is in the fillers... but sodium bicarb is listed on that section so it should help a bit?

--have gotten acidic, heartburn type symptoms on the old non-racemic alpha-lipoic acid (it is an acid, after all), depending on formulation and dosage, but based on, again, my experience on these and other boards and in various neuropathy groups, there seems to be less of that with the R-lipoic acid forms, both stabilized and not.

I suspect that may be due primarily to the dosage--those taking alpha lipoic are typically taking six to ten times the milligrams as those who take the racemic forms, primarily due to either physician or supplement advisory recommendation. R-lipoic is generally thought to be much more effective at a given dosage, due to only containing the right-handed biochemically active isomers, so people are advised to take less (generally 50-100mg/day or so, as opposed to the 600mg and up of alpha lipoic often recommended).

Just to throw this out there. Maybe anecdotal but, I have taken the Doctor's Best version for quite some time and it's a very good supplement. Seems to actually help with nerve pain, not a miracle pill but does help keep it from raging out. If you are looking to lose weight this supplement will do it. I have actually had to stop taking it for periods because it is such an effective fat burner. It actually does stabilize blood sugar levels. I have checked this with a monitor often and seen a significant result. Even non-diabetics should be aware of the their glucose levels if they suffer nerve pain.

If there is ONE supplement besides B-12 that I think is great for neuro pain sufferers it is this one. Empty stomach is very important, take first thing when you wake up and wait an hour to grab your breakfast/coffee, etc. It'll make your stomach gramble a little bit because it's digesting it, (it is a grumble that will be noticeable in a work situation like a meeting, lol). You can take just this one pill and be fine, if you take another later in the day its a good idea as well. Like I say, just watch the weight loss on this.

That's my experience. I know we are all different but this does seem to be common with consistent users of this supplement.