Research
Micronutrients & recovery
The R-enantiomer of alpha-lipoic acid has superior pharmacokinetic parameters, including higher bioavailability and plasma concentrations, compared to the S-enantiomer or racemic mixtures.
When buying Alpha-Lipoic Acid, look for the 'R-enantiomer' or 'R-ALA'. It is absorbed better by your body than the cheaper 'S-enantiomer' or 'racemic' mixtures, meaning you get more benefit from the same dose.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The R enantiomer of ALA shows better pharmacokinetic parameters, including increased bioavailability as compared to its S enantiomer.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple pharmacokinetic studies cited in the text.
Source
Insights on the Use of α-Lipoic Acid for Therapeutic Purposes
Bahare Salehi et al. · Biomolecules · 2019
DOI 10.3390/biom9080356
narrative_reviewCited 398×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Oral administration of 600 mg/day of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) significantly improves symptoms of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy and prevents disease progression in patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic neuropathy.Good
- Alpha-lipoic acid bioavailability is significantly reduced when taken with food, and should be administered on an empty stomach to maximize absorption.Moderate
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