R-Lipoic Acid

R-Lipoic Acid is the only naturally-occurring and 100% biologically active form of the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Researchers have stated that R-Lipoic Acid is 10 times stronger than the racemate alpha-lipoic acid at reducing inflammation. R-Lipoic Acid produces many beneficial actions that are unachievable with regular alpha-lipoic acid.

• R-Lipoic Acid has blocked MDMA neurotoxicity.*
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that your body synthesizes and can safely metabolize.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is proven to significantly reduce inflammation, an underlying cause of aging.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is proven to significantly increase your cellular and mitochondrial antioxidant activity for preventing mitochondrial decay. This effectively attenuates the reported increase in oxidative stress with aging.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is proven to improve memory, reduce brain damage, reverse cognitive dysfunction, and protect the brain from neurodegeneration associated with ageing.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is been proven to significantly increase insulin sensitivity, enhance glucose transport, increase metabolic rate and reduce the gain in body fat from aging.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is proven to protect body fats against oxidative damage, chelate harmful metals and reverse stress damage in your heart.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic that is proven to significantly increase or maintain levels of other antioxidants including Coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione.
• R-Lipoic Acid is the only form of lipoic acid that is proven to expand total life span.

*The most relevant study for human MDMA users is the study by Aguille who showed that a massive injection of lipoate into a rat blocked MDMA neurotoxicity. An equivalent dose with known human PK can be achieved orally at 700-1000mg. An oral solution of lipoate increases plasma concentrations four fold over solid dosage forms. The experiment was believed to demonstrate the free radical mechanism for NT, but lipoate also serves several other roles that may enhance neuroprotection. Lipoate induces two phase two detoxification enzymes;GST, the enzyme responsible for the conjugation of HHMA to GSH and NQO1 which reduces the HHMA semiquinone. Lipoate forms a sulphide bond with hepatic GSH, preventing oxidation and preserving the GSH:GSSH ratio (Reduced glutathione /oxidized glutathione), causing an efflux of the protective conjugate into the biliary duct.This removes hepatic GSH and prevents it from binding covalently to HHMA. The thiol conjugates of GSH and HHMA are implicated in the NT. Therefore it is necessary to maintain both high plasma levels of lipoate (to insure brain penetration) and liver levels. Lipoate has a substantial first pass metabolism and bioavailability of ~30%. The first pass is stereospecific with SLA accumulating preferentially. Therefore a spiked ratio of RLA/SLA can cause a substantial increase in RLA plasma levels while allowing SLA and metabolites to react with GSH and cause its biliary efflux. The conjugation reaction is not stereospecific. This allows protection of brain mitochondrial enzymes which utilize only the R form. A small amount of SLA nonenzymatically catalyzes the reduction of RLA to DHLA. RLA is known to be neuroprotective of the DA system and accumulates in the brain over several days (lysine bound).

RLA should be used daily in high doses to replenish previously depleted GSH, and prevent further oxidative damage. This also argues against supplemental GSH precursors like NAC, cysteine immediately prior or concurrent with MDMA. Supplemental NAC should be discontinued several days prior to MDMA exposure and resumed 36 hours after MDMA. The concentration of hepatic GSH is less important than the amount of GST, and the HHMA semiquinone for conjugation reactions. Lipoate has a short plasma half life and so the timing of administration must be adjusted to coincide with the metabolism of MDMA. This is best accomplished by taking lipoic acid 1/2 hour prior to concurrently with MDMA.

R-Lipoic Acid is an essential antioxidant and metabolic co-factor that helps reduce lipid peroxidation. The changes in lipid peroxidation can be measured with the RAD TEST™.

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$29.75 per bottle (60 capsules - 75mg)

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

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