What is alpha lipoic acid
Alpha lipoic acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body that has pronounced antioxidant properties. It is produced in the mitochondria of the cells, also known as the "power plants of the cells", where it plays a key role in the conversion of nutrients into energy (1).
In contrast to almost all other antioxidants, which are either only fat-soluble or only water-soluble, alpha lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble and can therefore fully develop its protective effect against free radicals in all types of tissue in the body.
What are the benefits of alpha lipoic acid for athletes?
Alpha lipoic acid is very interesting for athletes and health-conscious people for several reasons. Due to its pronounced antioxidant effect, alpha lipoic acid can effectively counteract the inevitable increase in the production of free radicals during intensive physical exertion as part of the energy metabolism and thus protect the body's (muscle) cells and genetic material from damage caused by these free radicals.
In combination with the pronounced anti-inflammatory properties (3, 4, 5) of alpha lipoic acid, this can reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and noticeably accelerate your regeneration after training.
In addition, alpha lipoic acid can improve insulin sensitivity (6), which means that insulin can work better. This results in a better and faster transport of glucose, amino acids and other important nutrients (and supplements such as creatine) into the muscle cells, which not only accelerates your recovery after training, but can also increase your athletic performance.
What other health benefits does alpha lipoic acid have
Because alpha lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity (8, 9, 10), it is particularly popular with people who suffer from elevated blood sugar levels, insulin resistance or diabetes.
Reducing blood glucose levels can also counteract severe blood sugar fluctuations, which often result in food cravings. By doing this - and by reducing AMPK activity (18, 19) - alpha lipoic acid can support weight loss and diet progress.
What is less well known is that alpha lipoic acid can also counteract the harmful long-term effects of diabetes, such as nerve damage and damage to the eyes (11, 12, 13).
However, the nerve-protective effects of alpha lipoic acid are not limited to diabetic nerve damage, but studies have shown that it can also be helpful in widespread carpal tunnel syndrome and some forms of polyneuropathy (14, 15).
In addition, alpha lipoic acid can reduce several risk factors for heart disease. These include reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as promoting blood vessel health (10, 16, 17).
Why is NA-R Alpha Lipoic Acid superior to regular Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements?
There are 3 different variants of alpha lipoic acid: the S variant, the R variant and the RS variant, which consists of 50% each of the S and R variants. Most supplements available on the market contain the S or the RS variant, both of which have a rather modest bioavailability compared to the pure R variant. In order to guarantee you maximum bioavailability and effect, we only use the R variant of alpha lipoic acid in NA-R-Alpha Lipoic Acid - and you probably wouldn't have expected anything else from GN Laboratories.
