Some new research on r-ALA's effectiveness

[smokinghawk]

sorry if these have been repeatedly posted. If they have, then ignore this, and the benefit is that they're now clumped in a single post that'll be easier for me to find in the future.

This study foud that r-ALA did significantly improve insulin sensitivity, glut-4 protein/muscle synthesis, and reduction in oxidative stress.

This study compared the effects of r-ALA with CLA. They fod that r-ALA by itself did not alter insulin sensitivity. CLA by itself did, but r-ALA and CLA together had the most effect. Insulin-mediate glucose uptake was not affected by the r-ALA. So in this test, r-ALA is unimpressive.

One problem with the second study, though, was the absxence of the exercise variable.

This page, about 2/3 down, hasw a fantastic study on r- versus s-ALA. They found, "Acutely, R-(+)-ALA increased insulin-mediated 2-DG-uptake by 64% (P < 0.05), whereas S-(-)-ALA had no significant effect. Although chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment significantly reduced plasma insulin (17%) and free fatty acids (FFA; 35%) relative to vehicle-treated obese animals, S-(-)-ALA treatment further increased insulin (15%) and had no effect on FFA."

Translation: r-ALA improved insulin sensitivity while s-ALA had no effect, and r-ALA reduced blood insulin and free fatty acids, while s-ALA actually INCREASED insulin and had no effect on fatty acids.

"Chronic R-(+)-ALA treatment elicited a 26% increase in insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis and a 33% enhancement of insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation. No significant increase in these parameters was observed after S-(-)-ALA treatment. "

The abstract concluded that ALA was very effective, "...with the R-(+) enantiomer being much more effective than the S-(-) enantiomer."



But before we get too excited, be aware that "Racemic" ALA is about 2/3 r-ALA anyway, and 1/3 s-ALA, not 50/50. To buy straight r-ALA means paying double or triple for that increase form 65% to 98% r-ALA.

And since r-ALA absorbs better into the blood anyway (about 80-100% more than the other form), your blood is seeing about 75-80% r-ALA form regular ALA anyways (

Source )

Comments?

 

[Fonz]

Yes. When ulter sees this he's going to explode.

Anyways,

An GLA/ALA(Racemic that is) showed a remarkable
synnergistic sffect.

I think a r-ala/GLA conjugate combo will be the next generation
in glucose dispoal agents.

Combine this with CLA and you have a KICK-ass combo.

And most racemics are 50/50 not 66/33. I checked.

Fonz

 

[macrophage69alpha]

But before we get too excited, be aware that "Racemic" ALA is about 2/3 r-ALA anyway, and 1/3 s-ALA, not 50/50. To buy straight r-ALA means paying double or triple for that increase form 65% to 98% r-ALA.

And most racemics are 50/50 not 66/33. I checked.

Fonz

ALL racemic mixes that are "hawked" here are 50/50.. if they are not fresh they are less as r-ala degrades much quicker.. if they are old.. ie near expiry.. they may be mostly s-ala

r-heavy mixtures (also known as extractions) are a lot more expensive.. they are VERY uncommon in the US..

btw- r-ala is 99+ percent

 

[macrophage69alpha]

And since r-ALA absorbs better into the blood anyway (about 80-100% more than the other form), your blood is seeing about 75-80% r-ALA form regular ALA anyways (

this is ACTUALLY much WORSE.. due to slower uptake of s-ala as well as its blocking effects this (likely) results in elevated insulin for an EXTENDED period of time..

likely the a part of the reason for the lethargy associated with racemic r-ala (though there may be other effects at play as well)..


just one more note--

ala (and probably r-ala) cause false positives for ketosis..