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The
biggest source of free radicals in your
body are your cellular "power plants,"
the mitochondria. They are both the
origin, and the target, of most of the free
radical damage in the body.
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As
we age, our mitochondria become less and
less efficient "power plants,"
generating less and less energy while creating
more and more free radicals.
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The
"lipoic acid" in common supplements
is a 50/50 mixture of two different "lipoic
acid" molecules: the natural R(+)-lipoic
acid, and the unnatural S(-)-form. This
mixture is called the "racemate."
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R(+)-lipoic acid, in animal experiments
and in test-tube studies, makes mitochondria
more efficient, so that they produce more
energy and create fewer free radicals. S(-)-lipoic
acid does not have these effects.
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These
benefits have a real impact on the organism.
Animals undergoing a simulated heart attack
recover heart function more rapidly when
infused with R(+)-lipoic acid; S(-)-lipoic
acid has no effect.
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Old
animals supplemented with lipoic acid look
better and are more active. S(-)-lipoic
acid does not have these effects.
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Acetyl-L-Carnitine
(ALCAR) also boosts mitochondrial energy
production. However, it does not make the
mitochondria run more efficiently.
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As
a result, old animals supplemented with
ALCAR create more energy, and are more active,
in the short term, but they suffer even
more free radical damage.
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Animals
supplemented with both ALCAR and R(+)-lipoic
acid get the benefits of ALCAR without
the increase in free radical stress. S(-)-lipoic
acid does not have these effects.
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Common
"lipoic acid" supplements are
thus like a house at war with itself. The
S(-)-form should be removed from supplements
in favor of pure R(+)-lipoic acid.
