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Alpha Lipoic Acid

Sallysblooms

P.O.T.S. now SO MUCH BETTER!
Messages
1,768
Location
Southern USA
Does anyone take Alpha Lipoic Acid? I have started taking it for problems with my feet/nerves. Just wondering how much you take. I take Lipoic Acid Supreme with Taurine and Biotin.
 

Tembo

Australia
Messages
63
Hi:Retro smile:
In my 19yrs years of cfs I have learned that Alpha Lipoic is something I cannot live without - when I stop it i notice a significant decrease in my energy levels ( and thats saying something considering I have hardly any!)

In my experience different brands make a BIG difference. This is one I highly recommend - have been taking this one for years now - even my CFS Specialist got on to it and started recommending it to all his patients, its that good. This one combines CoQ10 which is also for energy. Its a great combo. Im in Australia and a truckload of us sickies here order it by the boxful from the US.

http://store.wellnesspartners.com/RalaPure_PLUS_R_Alpha_Lipoic_Acid_DHLA_and_CoQ10_p/1261-ra02.htm

Hope that helps:Retro smile:
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
i have been using lipoic acid for quite a few years, mainly for its antioxidant properties and because it helps recycle other antioxidants like vit c and vit e. I use NOW brand and take 250mg dose in the morning.Alot of my supplements i get from bodybuilding.com and have found them alot cheaper then other places on the net including iherbs. I also take NAC(n-acetyl cysteine) 600mg twice a day and vit e 1000mg twice a day all NOW brand products. Im from australia too and find it cheaper then anything i can get here as well as stronger dosed too.
 

Athene

ihateticks.me
Messages
1,143
Location
Italy
I use it for its antioxidant properties. It is supposed to help with detoxing too. I find it helpful for energy, though if taken with CoQ10.
I read, as has already been mentioned, that there is a lot of poor quality product around which is totally useless.
I use Jarrow "rapid and sustained release" which gives you a rapid shot to raise blood levels and a timed release component to keep it high, in a single tablet. I trust Jarrow and I am satisfied that this is really helping me.
 
Messages
86
For those that take ALA, is mercury or heavy metals a concern? Do you have amalgams in your mouth?
I have been warned that taking ALA with high mercury or any amalgams can mess you up and it is pretty frightening. Otherwise, I would LOVE to try it.
 

Athene

ihateticks.me
Messages
1,143
Location
Italy
Oh that's scary powertool! I didn't know that. I am stuffed full of mercuty. Do you/anyone know where there is more info on it?
 
Messages
86
Well it's one of those things that are very intensely debated from what I've read. It all comes down to "proper" chelation. Andy Cutler says that the only safe way to chelate metals is low dosing of ALA and DMSA frequently so it doesn't little by little as opposed to a huge IV with large quantities that can mess you up. So if you were to ask the andy cutler followers, they would surely say no way jose as some of them even start off at 7mg of ALA.

however, it's hard uncover the objective truth behind all of it and frankly there is no objective truth, only relative and what works for you best I guess. My doctor has recovered many autistic children using DMSA IV use instead of cutler's protocol following certain standards. I also don't see how something like ALA can really mess you up unless something else is involved or you have lots of mercury? I'm not sure about this. there are TONS of people on the bodybuilding over taking NAC for recovery, ALA for antioxidants, etc. and its in multivitamins so one wouldn't even think to consider the amalgam aspect of it. I ordered a book by Dr. Berk Burkson who wrote "Alpha lipoid acid breakthrough" and it is really some amazing stuff, ALA hthat is. But because there is such a strong sentiment and opposition against taking even a little bit of ALA if you have mercury or amalgams by Andy Cutler, it has scared me a bit into doing some additional research. So far I haven't found much other than two views, a) do it, or b) do it and die.. (or run the risk of being messed up)
 

Sallysblooms

P.O.T.S. now SO MUCH BETTER!
Messages
1,768
Location
Southern USA
I went to my CFS doctor Monday. I don't have PN, but I do have Autonomic Nueropathy. She is the one that told to to take the ALA. Diabetics have good luck with it.

I had to start slowly. Makes my stomach hurt, but lower doses are just fine.