Nowadays, the benefits of antioxidants for brain health, happiness, cognition, your skin, your mood, and your energy are well known. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, resveratrol and glutathione are all popular, but one antioxidant with particularly interesting powers is alpha lipoic acid.
ALA functions as a powerful antioxidant in its own right, being one of the only antioxidant types to cross the brain-blood barrier successfully. Alpha lipoic acid is both a fat soluble and water soluble antioxidant, allowing it to protect all kinds of tissues in your body. But what’s most interesting is that alpha lipoic acid can regenerate other antioxidants, like vitamin C and vitamin E.
Alpha lipoic acid is also highly anti-inflammatory when taken as a supplement; inflammation is the root cause of acne, and contributes to brain problems and aching muscles. It’s even able to detoxify heavy metals like mercury, cadmium and lead.
This supplement isn’t fully understood, but has massive potential. Alpha lipoic acid occurs naturally in animal foods like eggs, liver and beef, and vegetables like broccoli and spinach, but the best source is easily supplements. But which is the best brand?
Firstly, always monitor your body for side effects. The side effects of alpha lipoic acid may include skin rashes, sweating, weakness, and headaches; discontinue supplementation if you notice them. Never exceed the recommended dosage on the bottle, and always stay at or below 600mg of ALA daily.
For a shortcut, the very best brands here are Simply Nature’s Pure and Geronova Research.
Let’s get started:
One – Simply Nature’s Pure
Simply Nature’s Pure meets every single requirement, beginning with a pure additive list of just the methylcellulose capsule. There’s no soy, magnesium stearate, nor unhealthy fillers to be found.
The second advantage is a powerful dosage of 600mg of alpha lipoic acid per capsule, beating countless weaker brands, which sometimes contain just 100mg. The capsules are normal sized and easy to swallow, at approximately 0.75 inches.
Simply Nature’s Pure is also an honest and reputable brand, being clear about what each capsule contains: the ALA is divided into 300mg each of the R-ALA and S-ALA forms. This brand is manufactured exclusively in the USA, in a Good Manufacturing Practices certified facility.
Finally, compared to ALA brands which offer a similar dosage and purity, Simply Nature’s Pure is highly affordable, featuring a 120 strong capsule count for a proper, 4 month testing supply.
If alpha lipoic acid is what you need, Simply Nature’s Pure will easily succeed.
Amazon link: Simply Nature’s Pure Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Two – Dr Danielle
The only additive is the vegetable capsule, with no soy or magnesium stearate, while Dr Danielle’s is a particularly well-trusted brand, with over 1000 positive reviews. This brand is also free from animal ingredients, perfect for vegans, and manufactured in the USA in a GMP compliant facility.
Dr Danielle is in a split form, consisting of 300mg of r-ALA and 250mg of s-ALA, which brings us to an important fact – alpha lipoic acid exists as both a natural R isomer and a synthetic S isomer. The former is naturally found in foods like eggs, liver, and kidneys, but the latter is synthesised in a laboratory. Most ALA supplements today consist of an equal split between the two; if there’s no specific breakdown on the ingredients label, it’s almost guaranteed.
Importantly, R-ALA is significantly more bioavailable in humans, with S-ALA having limited benefits, but the S isomer increases the stability of the supplement. Some dislike the inclusion of a weaker ingredient, but overall, standard 50/50 split brands are highly effective, with Dr Danielle being slightly superior. Elsewhere, the capsules are the standard size you’ll find everywhere, about 0.75 inches and easy to take. You get a long-lasting batch of 120 capsules.
Doctor Danielle’s is another excellent ALA supplement, easily beating most grocery store formulations.
Amazon link: Dr Danielle’s Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Three – Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations is among the supplement companies with the most stringent quality controls, with independent laboratories testing all of their raw materials for heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and lead, over 70 types of pesticides, and over 30 solvents.
Each batch of ALA is tested for purity and potency, while the ingredients list too meets the standards: just ascorbyl palmitate, hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose) and the vegetable capsule (cellulose water).
What about the ALA itself? The dosage is 200mg per capsule, while no breakdown of the isomers is given, meaning that there’s probably 100mg of S-ALA and R-ALA each per capsule. The capsule count is 60, while there’s no magnesium stearate nor soy to be found. Pure Encapsulations also makes a long list of other excellent supplements, such as their olive leaf extract and their magnesium.
Pure Encapsulations is a supreme alpha lipoic acid, for taking no shortcuts in quality.
Amazon link: Pure Encapsulations Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Four – Geronova Research
Firstly, Geronova Research contains 260mg per capsule, a good dosage since less is required with R-ALA. The only additives are vegetable cellulose and rice flour; it doesn’t waste its high potency with unnecessary additives. The capsule count is 60, while the price is higher, but worth paying for if you want optimal effectiveness.
As for the R-ALA, Geronova Research is in the sodium bound NA-R-ALA form. R-ALA is a highly reactive and unstable molecule in the body, degrading in response to air, light and moisture easily. That’s why it’s usually bound with S-ALA, and why pure R-ALA supplements are so hard to make…
…but binding the R-ALA makes it significantly more stable in the human body, increasing its absorption and effectiveness. Additionally, this gives each pill a tiny 30mg of sodium (1% of the RDI). Note that while the bottle says 300mg, this is the quantity of SA-R-ALA; the actual R-alpha lipoic acid within this formula is 260mg.
If you’re determined to buy the most effective ALA possible, Geronova Research is the brand for you.
Amazon link: Geronova Research R-Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Five – Mental Refreshment Nutrition
The breakdown of the R and S isomers isn’t listed, meaning that Mental Refreshment Nutrition probably contains the normal 300mg of each, combining effectiveness and stability. Mental Refreshment Nutrition contains gelatin and rice flour as its additives, the former for the capsule and the latter for a harmless filler. Therefore, this brand isn’t vegan, but if your only concern is purity, it’s perfect.
Mental Refreshment Nutrition is a reliable brand, manufactured in the USA, rather than a Chinese laboratory making ALA for the cheapest possible cost. Like Simply Nature’s Pure, it’s also strangely affordable. The final advantage is a 30 day money back guarantee, and a high 180-strong capsule count.
Mental Refreshment Nutrition meets every requirement for a powerful alpha lipoic acid supplement.
Six – We Like Vitamins
We Like Vitamins is identical; it contains 180 capsules of 600mg, with the only additives being gelatin and rice powder. The product is manufactured in the USA in a GMP certified facility, while there’s also a 30 day refund guarantee.
There’s no breakdown of the isomers given, and therefore a probable 300mg split between R-ALA and S-ALA, the split tested in most studies. We Like Vitamins is a perfect brand if Mental Refreshment Nutrition becomes temporarily unavailable, and a perfect brand in general.
Why do I generally recommend the S-ALA and R-ALA combination? Simply because almost every promising study was conducted on the standard 50/50 split form, which is also known as racemic ALA, including the great studies on heavy metal detoxification, anti-inflammatory properties, and antioxidant powers.
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Additionally, while the R-form does have high uptake in the small intestine, the S-form stabilises the uptake, preventing polymerisation, degradation when exposed to air, moisture or high temperaturea. R-alpha lipoic acid is doubtlessly the more effective of the two, but a split product like We Like Vitamins is ideal.
We Like Vitamins is a particularly powerful and effective alpha lipoic acid supplement.
Seven – Superior Labs
Like Pure Encapsulations, they rigorously test every ingredient and finished batch for heavy metals and pesticide contamination. In fact, Superior Labs even tests their plant ingredients like cellulose for harmful bacteria and microbes which are common in foods.
The additives are similarly pure: only plant cellulose and organic rice extract are included. This alpha lipoic acid contains an even split, with 300mg of S-ALA and R-ALA each. This isn’t displayed on the bottle but confirmed by Superior Labs on request. This brand is manufactured in the USA and strictly follows the GMP code.
Superior Labs is free from magnesium stearate, like every brand listed here. Another advantage with ALA, whether it’s Superior Labs or the most poorly produced ALA, is its dual fat soluble and water soluble properties. Vitamin C can only be absorbed alongside water. With vitamin E, you have to consume butter or another fat. Alpha lipoic acid can be absorbed with either, and also hoovers up free radicals in both fatty tissues and water-based tissues around the body.
Superior Labs is another alpha lipoic acid which is unbeatable for purity.
Amazon link: Superior Labs Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Eight – Boostceuticals
Each capsule contains 300mg of ALA, with 180 capsules supplied, but the bottle recommends taking 2 daily for 600mg. Again, there’s no information given about the isomer split, so it’s likely 150mg of each per capsule. Boostceuticals is guaranteed to be from soy, wheat and magnesium stearate.
Boostceuticals is an obscure, yet premium quality alpha lipoic acid supplement. An important question, however, is what about food sourced ALA? The concentrations are too weak to make a difference.
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Both animal foods and vegetables are sources, and from strongest to weakest, here are some example concentrations per 100 grams: spinach (0.315mg), cow kidney (0.264mg), broccoli (0.094mg), tomato (0.56mg), and brussel sprouts (0.039mg). Food can be a nice bonus, but it will never equal a supplement of 600mg. Note that food based ALA consists of lipoyllysine, a well-absorbed protein-bound form.
If your goal is to experiment with alpha lipoic acid, Boostceuticals is the supplement for you.
Nine – Bestvite
Bestvite is therefore perfect for a lower dosage experiment, for a more cautious approach. Elsewhere, Bestvite is as pure and potent as a supplement enthusiast could hope for, with only the gelatin capsule and rice flour as its additives.
The capsule count is huge, at 240. Bestvite is also confirmed to be from any dodgy additives like soy, corn and wheat. Magnesium stearate is also happily absent.
Bestvite doesn’t quite match We Like Vitamins or Simply Nature’s Plus, but beats most other alpha lipoic acids on the market.
Ten – NutraBio
This is a supplement of 150 capsules of 150 servings. There’s no specific breakdown of the isomers, but with 300mg per capsule, there’s probably 150mg of the S form and R form each. The dosage is slightly lower than Simply Nature’s Pure, but easily enough to unleash ALA’s potential.
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The additives list is empty, reading simply “cellulose”. NutraBio is an excellent supplement company; I’ve never seen a product made by them without maximum purity, and their zinc is among the best. NutraBio also has a 90 day refund guarantee, and is made in a US, GMP certified facility.
Like Boostceuticals, NutraBio’s ALA is unknown by most people, but beats the majority of popular brands.
Amazon link: NutraBio Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Conclusion
Since alpha lipoic acid remains a mysterious supplement, particularly in relation to acne and whether its antioxidant powers will protect your skin or not, I would advise you to monitor your body particularly closely when taking this supplement.
Which is the best brand? Simply Nature’s Pure cannot be beaten for combined alpha lipoic acid, but if the price tag is no barrier, Geronova Research is ideal for maximum effectiveness.
The overall market for alpha lipoic acid isn’t terrible, but there’s evidence of completely fraudulent brands which contain only a fraction of the ALA they claim to. The brands above are all reputable, with most selling other trusted and highly reviewed supplements.
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Thanks for reading!
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