Side effects from ALA and Benfotiamine
 

I think I'm having side effects from either ALA or r-la or Benfotiamine. I know I've had really bad reflux from ALA, especially when I increased it to 600mg. So, I decreased it to 300 and still had reflux. Also, had hair loss as side effect. So, I've decreased r-la to 100mg. And I'm having visual aura's, which I've been having occasionally since I started Benfotiamine. But, the visuals are happening almost everyday now.
It's a bummer, because they were helping my neuropathy. Going to stop my r-la tomorrow and see what happens. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi Julia,

Everybody is different, but I haven't had any trouble with R-Lipoic Acid or Benfotiamine. I have taken supplements that caused gastric problems, but those weren't two of them.

The one thing that most definitely caused me visual issues in the form of ocular migraines was an increase in estradiol in HRT. It was an immediate and unmistakable cause.

Janie

From what I understand, ALA can deplete biotin, which could be why your hair was falling out. You can supplement biotin. Just be sure to not take the ALA and biotin together because apparently they use the same pathway? Someone can correct me on this if I'm wrong.

α-lipoic acid is chemically similar to biotin.

Because of this it can block the uptake of biotin into cells. Biotin is essential for biochemical processes in all cells.

This may be a risk factor for people who take α-lipoic acid as a supplement at high doses.

When side effects occur with supplements, the only way you can get an answer, is to stop them. Wait for 2 weeks and introduce one at a time slowly (weekly or every 2 weeks).

I have never had any side effects from benfotiamine. But lipoic acid does have a side effect profile, and may cause these as the dose increases. So I would expect this to be your culprit.

Kiwi is correct...there is a transporter for lipoic acid and this transporter is also used for B5 (pantothenic acid) iodide, biotin.
Our bodies make lipoic acid and it is found in small amounts in some foods. So if this transporter is filled, with high doses, I'd expect the other nutrients to be blocked or poorly transported until that situation changes.

You can Google "lipoic acid transporter" and read the more recent information about this. My internet is stuck for many requests this morning due to weather, I suppose. So I am not linking these myself for now. The transporter is called the MVT
(multivitamin transporter).

Thanks for this info! I have been take R-ALA and have a vertical split in one of my nails, plus ridges on a few others. Hoping this is related... and that I can fix with the biotin supplement I just started taking. I spoke to my rheumatologist about my nails and he recommended biotin, so I bought some Hair, Skin and Nails gummies at Costco, the main vitamin being biotin.. and so I appreciate you sharing it's relation to R-ALA and the concern of taking the two at the same time... I will space them out, probably R-ALA in the morning, biotin gummy in the afternoon. Will report if any change in my nails. Thanks!

Many combo type products only have Biotin in micrograms in them.

I think you need MILLIGRAMS for a while. It takes many weeks to fix nails, as they grow slowly.

5-10 milligrams a day would be your target.

Nail health is also dependent on good thyroid levels. Since the MVT affects iodide absorption as well, you could be having low thyroid functions.

I'd stop the lipoic acid for a while and see if things improve.
Ask your doctor for an evaluation of your thyroid status too.
There are some warnings about high dose lipoic acid affecting the thyroid.

This is an example from Amazon:
Amazon.com: Natrol Biotin 1, mcg Maximum Strength Tablets, 1-Count: Health & Personal Care

Biotin purchased locally in stores may be more expensive.
I get mine at Puritan's Pride.

If you have any burning mouth or other mucus membrane areas the biotin can help that too. (mostly female areas).