Difference Between Alpha Lipoic Acid and R-Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
is known as 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid. It has two enantiomers: RLA and
SLA. The r-lipoic acid (RLA) is one of the enantiomers of alpha lipoic acid.
What is Alpha Lipoic
Acid?
Definition:
Alpha lipoic acid
(ALA), also known as 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid is a compound that
contains sulfur along with atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It includes
both the unnatural enantiomer that is known as the s-lipoic acid (SLA) and the
natural enantiomer that is known as the r-lipoic acid (RLA).
Formation:
The natural form of
alpha lipoic acid, the RLA, is formed naturally through chemical reactions that
take place in the cells within the body of plants and animals. The SLA
enantiomer is formed in the laboratory by means of various chemical reactions
that first took place in the 1950s. Scientists were able to modify and
transform the natural form of ALA to form the mirror image or enantiomer, which
became known as the s-form, the SLA.
Function:
Alpha lipoic acid has
an important function in the mitochondria of cells where reactions that involve
dehydrogenase enzymes take place. It also seems to help prevent damage to
membranes through its interaction with glutathione and ascorbic acid, and it
also functions as a strong antioxidant.
Health Benefits:
There have been many
claims regarding the benefits of alpha lipoic acid to a persons’ health. There
is, in fact, some scientific evidence that does support such claims. In fact,
researchers have found that alpha lipoic acid has been shown to help in
situations of neural degeneration and for difficulties that diabetics have;
particularly in cases of diabetic neuropathy. It also seems to help in cases
where there is ischemia-reperfusion injury, in other words where tissue has
been without blood and oxygen which is then later restored.
What is R-Lipoic Acid?
Definition:
The r-lipoic acid (RLA)
is the natural form of the compound known as alpha lipoic acid. This is one of
two enantiomers of the alpha lipoic acid compound.
Formation:
The r-lipoic acid is
formed through a series of reactions that take place in the mitochondria from
the molecule octanoic acid. The enzyme octanoyltransferase is involved in
further modifying the molecule so that it attaches to a lipoyl protein. The
lipoyl synthase enzyme then functions to replace some of the hydrogens in the
molecule with sulfur atoms. The final product that is formed stays attached to
a protein.
Function:
The r-lipoic acid
occurs in cells bound to protein molecules. It functions as a cofactor and
assists in metabolic reactions that involve α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and
pyruvate dehydrogenase where it helps bind acyl groups during the metabolic
process. It can be reduced to dihydrolipoic acid which is a strong antioxidant.
Health benefits:
Studies have indicated
that the r-lipoic acid form of alpha lipoic acid is very beneficial for health.
It was actually shown to decrease some of the effects of aging when studies in
rats in the laboratory. In fact, it stopped the loss of ascorbic acid (vitamin
C) and glutathione in the liver cells, which usually occurs with aging. It also
increased the ability of rats to take in and use oxygen, another reversal of
something commonly evident in aged individuals.
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Difference between
Alpha Lipoic Acid and R-Lipoic Acid?
Definition
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
is also known as 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid. It is also present in the
form of two enantiomers: RLA and SLA. The r-lipoic acid (RLA) is one of the
enantiomers of alpha lipoic acid.
Number of Molecular
Orientations
The alpha lipoic acid
occurs in at least two different molecular orientations as RLA and SLA. The
r-lipoic acid only occurs in the form of one molecular orientation.
Formation
The alpha lipoic acid
formation varies depending on what form it is in. In fact, it is formed either
naturally inside the mitochondria of cells or is artificially created by
scientists. The r-lipoic acid is the form of alpha lipoic acid that is formed
in the mitochondria from octanoic acid involving various enzymes.
Function
The function of alpha
lipoic acid is to help with various chemical reactions that involve the
dehydrogenase enzymes, which occur in the mitochondrion. The function of
r-lipoic acid specifically is as a cofactor that helps in metabolic reactions
that involve α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase
Health Benefits
The alpha lipoic acid
appears to help in situations where a person has neural degeneration and it is
helpful for diabetics. It is of particular use in helping treat diabetic
neuropathy. It also aids in situations where there is an ischemia-reperfusion
injury. The r-lipoic acid helps prevent
some of the effects of aging such as the loss of the amino acid glutathione,
and vitamin C from the liver. It also helps to improve the use and uptake of
oxygen by cells.
Table comparing Alpha
Lipoic Acid and R-Lipoic Acid
Summary of Alpha Lipoic Acid Vs. R-Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid
consists of two forms or enantiomers.
The r-lipoic acid is
the natural form in which alpha lipoic acid occurs and is made in organisms.
The s-lipoic acid is an
unnatural form of the alpha lipoic acid which has been chemically synthesized
by people.
The r-lipoic acid is
formed naturally in the mitochondria of living plant and animal cells.
The s-lipoic acid was
actually synthesized by scientists in the laboratory in the 1950s.
Alpha lipoic acid and
r-lipoic acid both have many health benefits.
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