Alpha Lipoic Acid is different from glutathione, the other major antioxidant in the body because glutathione cannot be carried through the intestinal tract, glutathione levels cannot be risen by dietary means to increase the antioxidant defense from this substance. On the other hand, Alpha Lipoic Acid is more absorbed and easily to augment glutathione levels due to its ability to regenerate glutathione back to its efficient antioxidant form.
Alpha Lipoic Acid is very special also because its ability to be reduced in cells and tissues. When Alpha Lipoic Acid is inside the cells, it begins to break down to dihydrolipoic acid. While both Alpha Lipoic Acid and dihydrolipoic acid perform antioxidant functions, dihydrolipoic acid, the reduced form of Alpha Lipoic Acid, is more powerful to operate antioxidant functions than Alpha Lipoic Acid because it has an extra electron.
With the extra electron, dihydrolipoic can donate this electron to the oxidized or antioxidant-inactive form of glutathione and vitamin C. After that, the oxidized forms of vitamin C and E will be able to be regenerated back to their potent antioxidant forms. That is why Alpha Lipoic Acid can help other antioxidants with its differences.
Why is Alpha Lipoic Acid Different?
Alpha Lipoic Acid is different from glutathione, the other major antioxidant in the body because glutathione cannot be carried through the intestinal tract, glutathione levels cannot be risen by dietary means to increase the antioxidant defense from this substance. On the other hand, Alpha Lipoic Acid is more absorbed and easily to augment glutathione levels due to its ability to regenerate glutathione back to its efficient antioxidant form.
Alpha Lipoic Acid is very special also because its ability to be reduced in cells and tissues. When Alpha Lipoic Acid is inside the cells, it begins to break down to dihydrolipoic acid. While both Alpha Lipoic Acid and dihydrolipoic acid perform antioxidant functions, dihydrolipoic acid, the reduced form of Alpha Lipoic Acid, is more powerful to operate antioxidant functions than Alpha Lipoic Acid because it has an extra electron.
With the extra electron, dihydrolipoic can donate this electron to the oxidized or antioxidant-inactive form of glutathione and vitamin C. After that, the oxidized forms of vitamin C and E will be able to be regenerated back to their potent antioxidant forms. That is why Alpha Lipoic Acid can help other antioxidants with its differences.