Frequently Asked Questions

To answer many common questions about lipoic acid, in a way that is convenient and accessible, we’ve grouped them according to the following categories:

Questions about manufacturing and storage

Q:Are your products Pharmaceutical Grade?
A:

There is no standardized definition for the term “pharmaceutical grade.” However, we manufacture our products with the utmost concern for product purity, quality, and safety.

Q:What is the best way to store your products? Do any products require refrigeration?
A:

Store products tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.

Refrigeration is not necessary.

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Questions About Our Products

Q:What products do you offer as Bio-Enhanced® Lipoic Acid?
A:

Our Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid is available in two water-soluble products:

  1. Vegetarian capsules as Na-RALA (the sodium salt form of R-Lipoic Acid)
  2. Liquid R-Lipoic Acid in 2 oz bottles.
  3. Liquid Alpha Lipoic acid in 2 oz bottles.
Q:What is the benefit of water-soluble products?
A:

The benefit of water-soluble R-Lipoic Acid salts is that they are absorbed quickly and are therefore fast-acting.

Q:What is R-Dihydrolipoic acid? (R-DHLA)
A:

R-Dihydrolipoic Acid is the reduced (has electrons added) form of R-Lipoic Acid.

We hope to have a product containing this form of Lipoic acid in the near future.

Q:How much R- lipoic acid does an adult need?
A:

Currently there are no established daily doses for supplementation. However, GeroNova scientists and medical advisors currently believe optimal dosing is 100-600 mg/day.

Q:How soon will I see results from supplementing with R-Lipoic Acid?
A:

It will vary depending on your current health, conditions you may have, and  dosage. Our customers report that they feel better, and experience clearer thinking and “enhanced well being within 2-3 weeks weeks. For optimal results, we recommend you take our R-Lipoic Acid daily for at least two months to evaluate the benefits.

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What is Lipoic Acid and Why Take It?

Q:What is Lipoic Acid?
A:

Lipoic Acid is a vitamin-like substance naturally produced by the human body. In addition to neutralizing dangerous free radicals, lipoic Acid is also essential for the production of cellular energy.*

Q:What is the difference between R-lipoic acid and Alpha Lipoic acid?
A:

Alpha-lipoic acid consists of a 50/50 mixture of the R- (natural) and S- (unnatural) forms (enantiomers). It is the most widely available commercial form of lipoic acid. R-Lipoic Acid is the form of lipoic acid that occurs naturally in plants, animals and the body and is responsible for the specific beneficial effects of alpha lipoic acid.

Q:Why is R-Lipoic Acid superior to (R/S) alpha-lipoic acid?
A:

R-Lipoic Acid, is the natural form of Lipoic Acid — the exact type the body makes and requires. R Lipoic is significantly more potent than Alpha Lipoic because the body “recognizes” it and “knows” how to use it.

Research indicates that not only does the human body have difficulty absorbing the unnatural (S) version; it may actually inhibit the most essential properties of natural R-Lipoic Acid.

Q:Why take R-Lipoic acid (RLA)?
A:

R-Lipoic Acid has powerful antioxidant functions:

  • It is essential for the production of cellular energy in the form of ATP, so it actually delivers a boost of energy*
  • Regulates lipid and carbohydrate metabolism
  • Has been shown to reduce inflammatory conditions
  • Is neuroprotective, as it crosses the blood brain barrier
  • Can chelate heavy metals
  • Can reverse enzyme and DNA oxidative damage
  • Increases glutathione production
  • Can boost glucose metabolism
  • May help improve insulin sensitivity, reducing blood sugar levels

 

Q:What are other benefits of Lipoic Acid?
A:

Other benefits include:

  • Lipoic Acid is the only antioxidant that is soluble dissolves in both fat and water, so it may protect the fatty cell membrane and the aqueous cell interior from harmful free radicals.*
  • Lipoic Acid makes other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E and CoQ10, work better.
  • Lipoic Acid can reduce the aches and pains associated with aging.*
Q:When is the best time to take lipoic acid?
A:

It’s preferable to take R-lipoic acid on an empty stomach, at least 1/2 hour before a meal, or 3 hours after, preferably in the morning to early afternoon.

If  you experience any nausea due to lowered blood sugar, eat lightly.  The absorption will be slower with food, but the efficacy will not be affected.

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What is the difference between GeroNova’s products and other ‘unstabilized’ R-lipoic acid being sold?

Q:What is Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid?
A:

Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid is formulated using a unique stabilization process that ensures maximum absorption. Pharmacokinetic data has shown that our Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid products have 40x the absorption rate of unstabilized RLA.

Q:What is the difference between Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid and ‘free’ R-Lipoic acid?
A:

Without special processing, R-Lipoic Acid is highly unstable and difficult to absorb. In fact, only a small percentage of unstabilized R-Lipoic Acid can actually be absorbed.

Plus, unstabilized R-Lipoic Acid can also contain harmful heavy metals and residual solvents that are very difficult to remove. The processing and stabilization of GeroNova’s products removes all traces of residual solvents from the raw material.

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When is the best time to take lipoic acid?

Q:When is the best time to take lipoic acid?
A:

It’s preferable to take R-lipoic acid on an empty stomach, at least 1/2 hour before a meal, or 3 hours after, preferably in the morning to early afternoon.

If  you experience any nausea due to lowered blood sugar, eat lightly.  The absorption will be slower with food, but the efficacy will not be affected.

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* This statement has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.