r-lipoic acid and acid reflux?
 

Hi.

I just switched yesterday from alpha lipoic acid 600 mg a day to Doctor's Best R-Lipoic acid 100 mg a day. I now seem to be having acid reflux issues. Started last night. I didn't notice any of this while I was on the alpha lipoic acid, so I'm definitely thinking there is a connection to the r-lipoic. I wanted to switch over to it though because I had read good things about it here (being more potent, needing less, etc.)

Does anyone else have any issues with acid reflux while taking r-lipoic acid? Any suggestions on how to combat that? I thought I was supposed to take r-lipoic acid on an empty stomach to increase its effectiveness. Should I be taking it with food due to my acid reflux issues?

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions. I'd hate to quit on this r-lipoic after just a couple of days.

Oh, and the reason for taking it is to try and help my small fiber neuropathy.

YES.

I made a post about this exact thing awhile back. I have a bottle of it and can't use it. Kicked up my acid reflux HORRID.

I'm sad. :(

p.s. nothing I did helped so i gave up. NOT WORTH IT.

Here is the post where we talked about it:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ight=Stacy2012

Are you taking it with enough water?

R-lipoic is not in its acid form when using the stabilized type.

It is lipoate.

You can try taking some antacid a few minutes before the R-lipoic.

Food does impair the ALA racemic mixture (which is not very soluble), but it may not be such a factor for the new NaRALA which is very soluble. A light meal might work too.

If the capsule does not move down to the bottom of the stomach, it might dissolve near the esophagus, and if you have minor irritations there from other things, it might also irritate.
Most things do irritate the esophagus.

I knew a doctor once who swallowed a tetracycline capsule without water... and he burned his esophagus which took over
2 weeks to heal!

I would expect the higher dose old ALA versions to be much more irritating, since they are in the acidic form.

I took ALA without any problems. I don't take it anymore just because I didn't see that it did much and wanted to spend the money on other things. But ALA never caused acid reflux with me.

Yes, alpha lipoic acid gives me intense heartburn every time. I have to take it with a lot of water and a little food.
I wonder if taking an antacid would hinder its absorption. I suggest doing a little research there.
Good luck

Feather, ALA or R-Lipoic??

You said ALA instead of R-lipoic, I thought it was the other way around for you????

This lipoic acid / heartburn issue comes up now and then.
The old form people would be taking in almost gram amounts and since it doesn't dissolve quickly, might be an issue for a very sensitive person.

I have had reflux with ginger extract, and dark chocolate at times. I simply cannot drink coffee anymore! It wrecks my GI tract. But I do drink black tea (Bigelow brand) once a day in the morning, strongly steeped.

But the 100mg of NaRALA does not seem to bother me.

Factors in reflux are bending over after a potential culprit, too full of a stomach, too much gas coming up from below., and poor integrity of the stomach lining.

Coffee and tea have more acid than that a R-lipoic capsule (100mg). The stomach itself is more acidic than that capsule.

So there might be some factor that makes lipoic acid products other than the acid, be the culprit.

Back a decade ago, I had alot of GERD. I had many tests, and they found my twisted stomach and hiatal hernia. At one point I was on Prilosec daily. At that time, I found, Dr. Sears' book, Enter the Zone, and I began Omega-3 fatty acids daily. Fish oil, primrose oil, and Flax oil. Within 3 months, my GERD was gone, and never really returned, except for the foods I mentioned now and then. It was a wake up call illustrating that the maintenance of the lining of the GI tract is dependent on
these essential fats.

If you lie down after eating at any time, or bend at the waist alot doing some activity after eating you can push acidic stomach contents into the unprotected esophagus. I think this factor alone is responsible for many GERD episodes.

One little Fosamax if taken and then the patient lies down or doesn't use enough fluid to move it along...will erode the esophagus in some patients. 10mg
Actonel is just as bad. And they are not acidic.

So I would take this "heartburn" as a sign that something is wrong. Please do check that out.

I don't mean to disagree with you MrsD but...some people simply have reactions to things and it doesn't indicate something is wrong.

My acid reflux is not severe, never even been on rx meds and I have had it checked. I simply have reactions to some things while other people do not.

Of course you are right, there can always be underlying issues. I am just saying there does not have to be. Sometimes it really is as simple as a product that causes acid reflux in some people and not in others. :)

Hi David
 

I have acid reflux seriously. Went to Barretts esophagus. I had to give up that suppliment. It made it worse. ginnie:hug:

Certainly if something is bothering, you --- take a good look at it and the situation.

ALA is not so important, that anyone HAS to take it. So if it gives you heartburn, stop it for a while. But don't throw it out yet.
Whatever is going on may change. If you have heartburn from other things, it is time to see a doctor. Heartburn can be lifestyle triggered. Or it can be a serious sign to see your doctor.
In my case I got Prilosec. But in reality by coincidence, the essential fatty acids cured it as I was low.

Intolerance to lipoic acid, might point to something else going on that needs looking into.

It is the same with foods that we are intolerant of, and also
DRUGs that cause all sorts of grief.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

I probably will try giving up the R-Lipoic starting tomorrow and see if I can get this acid reflux situation under control.

I may try it again in the future just to see what happens.

I tried many times, didnt matter how or what I did, always caused me problems. If you figure out a method that helps, please post and let me know what it is. I tried all the suggestions on the other post.

I personally have had better luck with the ALA. I take 900mg (3 capsules) daily and if I stop, I definitely can feel what it has done for me. One 100mg capsule of R Lipoic would not even substitute for one 300mg of ALA, in my case. Everyone is different, even drugs don't work the same for everyone, and it certainly doesn't hurt to try. I've also found, in my case, that the gel caps available from PP seem to be easier on the acid reflux problem. They also come in 300mg caps (kind of large, but easy for me to swallow, as they are soft caps similar to vit E).

Groucho, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been on 900mg of ALA and have you noticed any side effects?

Thanks.

I've been taking it for more than a year, but at 600mg for 3-4 months at the beginning. I noticed a small change & perhaps it wasn't quite enough to make a really noticeable difference, so I moved up to 800-900mg daily, depending on the size capsules that I had. I take them after eating to minimize indigestion/reflux, which is the only side effect I've had. As I mentioned before, I have less of that when I take PP's gel caps. They are on the large size, but I have no difficulty swallowing them with sufficient water. They are also only slightly more expensive than the regular capsules. I take 3-300mg all at once after breakfast. If they bother you, you can try taking one with each meal. I DO notice when I haven't taken them for a few days, but sometimes forget that I wasn't taking them & then when I've retaken them for a few days, things improve. LOL.

I plan to see my Neurologist in another month to switch me from Gabapentin to Nortriptylene. He said he didn't like ALA, but we were on our way out the door at that time & will try to remember to ask him why this time around. He's in his mid 30's & perhaps thinks the only relief comes with drugs & natural stuff is hype.

There is a study quoted on the Linus Pauling Institute monograph
about alpha lipoic acid:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/la/

That food hinders absorption of the racemic mixture ALA.

Many drugs are also best taken on any empty stomach, but even those patients are told to take them with food, if the drug bothers their stomach. The important thing is that if they help an individual, the drug or supplement should be taken the way that it works best for the individual, and not just simply give up just because they can't take it in the preferred way. I take all 3 capsules at once, so I don't have to remember daytime doses. It takes a few days for me to have noticeable effects, so no need to spread out doses.

Groucho, how odd that that doc. said he didn't like ALA. Some are so clueless. I feel sorry for patients that do not find good doctors. Reg. doctors need to find out how to really help with all treatments.

For the "brave" here is a complex article that evaluates the various studies.

http://examine.com/supplements/Alpha-Lipoic+Acid/

Note at the very top of the first page, is the warning to not confuse lipoic acid (ALA) with an Omega fatty acid alpha linolenic acid....however. the latter is called an Omega-6, and it is NOT, it is an Omega-3.

This leaves me with a trust issue as the the validity of the rest, but I'll put it up here anyway. In general it does not report glowing results with it.

Hi, I take Life Extensions r-lipoic acid.. No problems... thx jen.

I stopped talking prilosec for years now. I believe that improved diet, a lower weight and fish oil have helped. I still get the occasional flare up though. Sometimes with the r-lipoic as well.

I've read that certain apples help with reflux or using organic apple cider vinegar. It's like the old saying: "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". I have the cider in my arsenal of supplements as well for this reason. I take as needed.

Whoops! I'm from **, and lest assured, we do know that Alpha-Linoleic Acid is an n3. It was a typo, and we've corrected it.

If you see anything else awry or have any questions, please don't hesitate in asking me.

I saw my Neuro this past Weds, and I made it a point to ask him about his previous remark. He said that it wasn't that he didn't like ALA, he meant that only 15-20% of his patients which he he told to try it, actually responded to it. When you need help with pain, ALA is not so expensive that it's not worth the gamble that it might benefit you.

You ought to show that doctor the statistics for Neurontin...

30% only respond to it according to a meta-analysis of the studies from past years.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post829091-8.html

And some recent studies on Lyrica...show not much effect for diabetic neuropathic pain.

Do you think this stops your doctor from giving these drugs?
(with the awful side effects and high costs)

Yes!
 

Thanks for this post. I was getting really bad acid reflux after recently starting on the R Lipoic acid, 100 mg. I was blaming it on the gabapentin and had no idea! Stopped the R Lipoic acid and it is gone! I was waking up in the middle of a sound sleep thinking I was going to throw up and had no idea what it was. It was also happening during the day, 4 or 5 times a day. I am now taking Alpha Lipoic acid, 300 mg, with no problems.