How can people claim R-ALA doesnt work?

[MrMakaveli]

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid combined with creatine monohydrate on human skeletal muscle creatine and phosphagen concentration.

Burke DG, Chilibeck PD, Parise G, Tarnopolsky MA, Candow DG.

Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada B2G 2W5.

Alpha-lipoic acid has been found to enhance glucose uptake into skeletal muscle in animal models. Studies have also found that the co-ingestion of carbohydrate along with creatine increases muscle creatine uptake by a process related to insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on human skeletal muscle creatine uptake by directly measuring intramuscular concentrations of creatine, phosphocreatine, and adenosine triphosphate when creatine monohydrate was co-ingested with alpha-lipoic acid. Muscle biopsies were acquired from the vastus lateralis m. of 16 male subjects (18-32 y) before and after the experimental intervention. After the initial biopsy, subjects ingested 20 g x d(-1) of creatine monohydrate, 20 g x d(-1) of creatine monohydrate + 100 g x d(-1) of sucrose, or 20 g x d(-1) of creatine monohydrate + 100 g x d(-1) of sucrose + 1000 mg x d(-1) of alpha-lipoic acid for 5 days. Subjects refrained from exercise and consumed the same balanced diet for 7 days. Body weight increased by 2.1% following the nutritional intervention, with no differences between the groups. There was a significant increase in total creatine concentration following creatine supplementation, with the group ingesting alpha-lipoic acid showing a significantly greater increase (p < .05) in phosphocreatine (87.6 --> 106.2 mmol x kg(-1) dry mass [dm]) and total creatine (137.8 --> 156.8 mmol x kg(-1) dm). These findings indicate that co-ingestion of alpha-lipoic acid with creatine and a small amount of sucrose can enhance muscle total creatine content as compared to the ingestion of creatine and sucrose or creatine alone.

Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 14669930 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Completely healthy HUMAN SKELETAL MUSCLE.

 

[juve]

When people say that r-ALA doesn't work, the foundation for the claim is that they do not achieve or do not notice any body recomposition effect. If you took a runner who is already 5% bf and has an excellent insulin sensitivity r-ALA won't 'do shit' for him. For that matter anyone who excercises on regular basis, non-obese and has a healthy diet will most likely notice any effect. Anti-oxidant properties are where it's at

 

[dr0832]

What I want is an unbiased opinon on whether ala is better then r-ala. I know theres studies of rats, and the AF store people think so, but thats not the opinions I am looking for. Has anyone taken both of them and compared results? I realize you have to take 3-5 times more ala to get equivalent amount of the r-ala/s-ala ratio in ala, but I am not worried about this either since i can get ala very cheap and locally. Also the biotin is not an issue either because I get that very cheap as well. Putting price aside does r-ala and ala work the same provided you take equivalent amounts or am I missing out.

 

[2x4]

I have noticed a difference. I started taking GNC's ALA 100 before Christmas, about 500mg a day. Nothing. Feb 1 I started taking AST's rALA 200 with 1000mcg of Biotin and have notice a difference. I am only taking the 600mg recomended daily dosage. One in the morning before breakfast and 2 pills post workout, before my shake. I made the mistake at first of taking one pill with my prework out meal or shake, and it left me flat with no energy half way through a workout. But taking them right after workout has stopped that. I'm on a 40/40/20 diet so I can't say the cuts are from the ALA or the diet, but I am seeing more diffinition in my physique. Muscles seem more pumped but that could be creatine, arginine or taurine. The only things I have changed in my stack is, the rALA and starting this week the taurine. So, the credit to me goes to the ALA for now.

 

[MrMakaveli]

What I want is an unbiased opinon on whether ala is better then r-ala. I know theres studies of rats, and the AF store people think so, but thats not the opinions I am looking for. Has anyone taken both of them and compared results? I realize you have to take 3-5 times more ala to get equivalent amount of the r-ala/s-ala ratio in ala, but I am not worried about this either since i can get ala very cheap and locally. Also the biotin is not an issue either because I get that very cheap as well. Putting price aside does r-ala and ala work the same provided you take equivalent amounts or am I missing out.

ALA by itself works well but It actually made me put on some fat on my stomach. I never knew why until Frackal had the same problem and posted about it one day. To be fair, this seems to be very dependant on body-type, etc.

R-ALA for me is much much better.

Try them both and just see which works better.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

Sorry I missed Frackal's post. How does ALA make you put ON fat?

 

[MrMakaveli]

Sorry I missed Frackal's post. How does ALA make you put ON fat?

S-ALA (in racemic) can raise plasma insulin levels

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

mr makaveli
you were the person that told me to try ala back a long time ago, remember?
well i tried it and it worked
then i tried R-ala and i could feel the difference straight away
I felt somewhat harder too in my muscles!

It definately works!

 

[MrMakaveli]

mr makaveli
you were the person that told me to try ala back a long time ago, remember?
well i tried it and it worked
then i tried R-ala and i could feel the difference straight away
I felt somewhat harder too in my muscles!

It definately works!

Good to hear! BTW, you'll have a PM later, I'm a Tae Kwon Do vet thinking of getting back into M.A. with M.T and need some info if you dont mind