Alpha Lipoic Acid (or ALA) is a blend between rALA and sALA. rALA is natural ALA and sALA is synthetic ALA. ALA has a couple uses, it is good for making your muscles more insulin sensitive and for its hepatoprotectant properties (a potent antioxidant). ALA is great to use with a large carb meal to help 'push' the carbs into muscle cells and not into fat cells. so it will keep you in ketosis.