An extraordinary antioxidant
R(+) lipoic acid is one of the best weapons against free radicals, the waste products that injure blood vessels, damage DNA, contribute to inflammation and lead to neurodegenerative diseases. R(+) lipoic acid is naturally produced in the body and is found right inside the cellular powerplant known as the mitochondria where free radicals are produced, protecting cells inside and out and slowing the damaging effects of age.

Benefits for diabetics
Lipoic acid improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, and prevents diabetic complications. It is helpful in treating and preventing neurodegenerative disorders and it may have benefits in Alzheimer's disease. It also blocks the enzyme that is involved in cataract formation to reduce their incidence.

Sustained release
Lipoic acids tend to be very short-lived in the blood. Sustained Release R+ Lipoic Acid is specially formulated with a salt form that ensures it is more stable and more accessible to the body than conventional alpha lipoic acid. It is designed to provide a sustained release for 8-10 hours, providing continuous resistance to free radicals.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an extraordinary antioxidant which protects against oxidative damage both inside and outside of cells, as well as in the mitochondria, where cellular energy is produced along with free radicals. Supplementation with ALA decreases markers of oxidative stress and recycles important antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione and ubiquinone.

Lipoic acid and diabetes
Alpha lipoic acid is helpful in any condition where elevated blood glucose levels and free radicals are involved in the disease process. ALA has been particularly studied for its utilization for diabetic patients.

Supplementation with ALA improves insulin sensitivity and cellular glucose uptake, prevents diabetic complications, prevents protein glycation, reduces plasma free fatty acids, and stimulates glycolysis. Incredibly, ALA can help treat diabetes once it has developed, prevents the progression of complications related to diabetes and alleviates complications if they are already present.

Lipoic acid and neurodegenerative disorders
Studies have suggested that ALA may be helpful for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's. Alpha lipoic acid may also be helpful for preventing cataract formation, and supplementation with this antioxidant lead to improvements in visual function in patients suffering from glaucoma. It also appears to protect the liver in conditions of oxidative stress such as alcoholic liver disease and viral hepatitis.

Lipoic acid and aging
The key to the anti-aging effect of ALA lies in its ability to protect the mitochondria from oxidative stress. It has been demonstrated that as we age, our mitochondria slowly become less and less efficient at producing energy. This loss of efficiency results in an increased production and release of free radicals, which injure the cell and the mitochondria, leading to a harmful and destructive cycle. ALA improves mitochondrial function and reduces the production of free radicals, halting this vicious cycle.

Lipoic acid and optimal health
Free radicals, which are quenched by (R+)-lipoic acid, are well known for their injurious effects on health. They damage body structures, oxidize lipids, injure blood vessels, can lead to DNA mutations, contribute to inflammation and are thought to play a key role in degenerative disorders. On a different front, elevations in blood glucose levels damage proteins and lipids. As we age, insulin sensitivity decreases, which contributes to increases in blood glucose levels. This leads to the loss of function in cellular structures and speeds up the aging process. Alpha lipoic acid offsets this course by increasing insulin sensitivity, which enhances glucose uptake by cells and decreases blood sugar levels.

An ideal formula
The effectiveness of lipoic acid has been limited on two fronts. Firstly, supplemental lipoic acid has been manufactured with the R+ and S-enantiomers - two molecules with the same chemical formula but with different structures. The R+ form is naturally occurring and the beneficial effects of alpha lipoic acid come from the R+ isomer. The S+ form however is artificial, a byproduct of the manufacturing process and is harmful because it is thought to prevent the utilization of the R+ enantiomer. This is especially detrimental with ALA because the molecule has a very short half-life in the body, estimated at 22 minutes; the second shortcoming of this molecule. The solution is, in theory, simple. To reap the full benefits of Alpha Lipoic Acid, an R+ sustained release formula would be ideal and would offer continual resistance against free radicals and prolonged insulin sensitivity in diabetics. This is why AOR is proud to introduce the world's first sustained release R+ lipoic acid.