A Breakdown of Na-R-ALA: Make Carbs Great Again

Carbohydrates are one of the three main macronutrients, and they’re the preferred fuel during intense exercise -- resistance-training, sprinting, HIIT, etc.

Still, many individuals are wary about consuming carbohydrates (even moderate amounts) for fear that they will stall weight loss and potentially cause fat gain.

Today, we highlight a supplement that helps make carbs great again -- Na-R-ALA.

What is Na-R-ALA?

Na-R-ALA is a sodium salt form of R-Lipoic Acid that is heat stable with fast dissolution rates, high solubility and absorption.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an endogenous disulphide-containing compound with powerful antioxidant properties. It’s found within every cell of the human body and is frequently referred to as the “universal antioxidant.”[1]

(molecular structure of ALA) 

 In addition to being naturally produced in the body, ALA is found in a number of foods common to the diet, including spinach, broccoli, green peas, and tomatoes.

Beyond its antioxidant properties (which helps combat free radicals and oxidative stress), ALA is also essential for certain enzymatic reactions in the body, and it also is renowned for its beneficial effects on blood glucose.

How Does ALA Help Carbohydrate Metabolism?

Alpha-lipoic acid can improve sugar metabolism and energy production.[2] It’s also known to ameliorate mitochondrial deformation and increase the amount of mitochondrial DNA.[3] This is especially noteworthy when you realize that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the oxidative stress and systemic inflammation seen in metabolic syndrome.[4]

Furthermore, ALA also possesses insulin-mimetic activity which improves glucose handling and utilization.

And, research type-2 diabetic notes that ALA lipoic acid decreases blood glucose and improves insulin sensitivity.

Na-R-ALA supports an anabolic state by downregulating AMP kinase (AMPK) and increasing insulin sensitivity.

ALA isn’t only beneficial for those looking to lean bulk but those looking to drop weight too as research suggests that ALA may reduce food intake and boost energy expenditure via decreasing hypothalamic AMPK activity.[5]

Furthermore, individuals with hyperglycemia (pre-diabetics and type 2 diabetics) also tend to have higher incidences of oxidative stress. Oxidative damage is also known to play a key role in various diabetes-associated disorders and diseases.

Takeaway

Collectively, this makes ALA an incredibly alluring option for those looking to build muscle or lose fat.

Performax Labs SlinMax contains 250mg of alpha lipoic acid using the more bioavailable sodium salt -- Na-R-ALA.

SlinMax also contains other powerful nutrient partitioning agents including berberine, agmatine, and corosolic acid (from banaba leaf).

Click here to learn more about SlinMax and how it can help you maximize the benefits of carbohydrates!

References

1. Al-Matubsi HY, Oriquat GA, Abu-Samak M, Al Hanbali OA, Salim MD. Effects of Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Activities of Cyclooxygenases and Levels of Prostaglandins E2 and F2αMetabolites, in the Offspring of Rats with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes [published correction appears in J Diabetes Res. 2017;2017:8135610]. J Diabetes Res. 2016;2016:9354937. doi:10.1155/2016/9354937
2. Khamaisi M., Potashnik R., Tirosh A., et al. Lipoic acid reduces glycemia and increases muscle GLUT4 content in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. 1997;46(7):763–768. doi: 10.1016/S0026-0495(97)90120-7.
3. Zhou L., Jin J., Song G., et al.  α-Lipoic acid ameliorates mitochondrial impairment and reverses apoptosis in FABP3-overexpressing embryonic cancer cells. Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes. 2013;45(5):459–466. doi: 10.1007/s10863-013-9506-z
4. Prasun, P. (2020). Mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(10), 165838. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165838
5. Kim MS, Park JY, Namkoong C, Jang PG, Ryu JW, Song HS, Yun JY, Namgoong IS, Ha J, Park IS, Lee IK, Viollet B, Youn JH, Lee HK, Lee KU. Anti-obesity effects of alpha-lipoic acid mediated by suppression of hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase. Nat Med. 2004 Jul;10(7):727-33. doi: 10.1038/nm1061. Epub 2004 Jun 13. PMID: 15195087.