R-Alpha Lipoic Acid complex — direct answers
What is it? Vitality Supplements R-Alpha Lipoic Acid is a Longevity Series food supplement providing, per 2-capsule serving: R-Alpha Lipoic Acid 300mg (R-isomer), Acetyl-L-Carnitine 250mg, Coenzyme Q10 100mg, Biotin 500mcg (1000% NRV) and BioPerine black pepper extract 5mg. The three main actives sum to 650mg.
What is R-alpha lipoic acid? The R-enantiomer of alpha lipoic acid — the form that occurs naturally in the body. Racemic alpha lipoic acid is a 50:50 mix of R and S, so 300mg of racemic ALA contains 150mg of the R form; this product declares 300mg of the R-isomer.
Does it carry a health claim? Only for biotin: biotin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Alpha lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine and CoQ10 have no authorised claims and none are made.
How many capsules? 60 vegetable cellulose capsules — 30 servings, a 30-day supply at two capsules daily. Suitable for vegetarians.
How is it taken? Adults take 2 capsules daily with water, preferably with food. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily dose.
Is it tested? Third-party tested.
Where is it made? Manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Who should not take it? If pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, consult a doctor. Keep out of reach of children.
Pricing and terms. Free UK delivery; 60-day money-back guarantee; subscribe and save is available on the single pouch with the option to skip, pause or cancel at any time.
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid
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Half of most lipoic acid isn’t the form your body makes.
This is all R.
Alpha lipoic acid exists as two mirror-image molecules, R and S. The R-isomer is the one found in the body and in food; the S-isomer is a by-product of chemical synthesis. Most “alpha lipoic acid” on sale is racemic — a 50:50 mix — so a 300mg racemic capsule delivers 150mg of R. This product declares 300mg of the R-isomer. That is a statement about composition, not about effect: alpha lipoic acid carries no authorised health claim in either form.
per serving here
300mg racemic capsule
ALCAR or CoQ10
The energy claim on the pouch
belongs to the biotin.
Most lipoic acid complexes carry an energy or antioxidant line on the front. Here is exactly which ingredient earns it and which don’t.
Where the claim comes from
Biotin has authorised UK/EU health claims, including “biotin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism”. The claim is available once a product provides at least 15% of the 50mcg NRV; this product provides 500mcg — 1000% NRV. That is the only authorised claim on this pouch.
- Biotin: authorised — energy-yielding metabolism, normal macronutrient metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system
- Alpha lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, CoQ10: no authorised health claims in any form
- “Antioxidant” is not an authorised claim for any ingredient in this formula
What’s in it — and who it suits
Five actives, one excipient.
- R-Alpha Lipoic Acid 300mg · Acetyl-L-Carnitine 250mg · CoQ10 100mg · Biotin 500mcg · BioPerine® 5mg
- Other ingredient: vegetable cellulose capsule — that’s the full list
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Take with food — CoQ10 is fat-soluble
- Not labelled vegan
- If pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, consult a doctor before use
Five actives. Every one dosed on the label.
No proprietary blend. The three main actives are declared individually, the biotin is declared against its NRV, and the black pepper extract is a named branded ingredient.
Five actives — the complete breakdown.
Three main actives in full, two co-factors in brief. Every dose below matches the label.
What is R-alpha lipoic acid?
Alpha lipoic acid is a sulphur-containing compound found in small amounts in spinach, broccoli and organ meats. It exists as two enantiomers — mirror-image forms — called R and S. The R form is the one made and used in the body; the S form appears only as a by-product of chemical synthesis.
Standard alpha lipoic acid supplements are racemic: a 50:50 mix of both. A label reading “alpha lipoic acid 300mg” therefore contains 150mg of R. This product declares 300mg of the R-isomer. Alpha lipoic acid carries no authorised UK/EU health claim in either form, so we describe what it is and stop there.
- 300mg per serving, R-isomer
- Declared as R-Alpha Lipoic Acid on the label, not as generic ALA
- Third-party tested
What is acetyl-L-carnitine?
Acetyl-L-carnitine is the acetylated form of L-carnitine, an amino-acid derivative the body makes from lysine and methionine and which is involved in moving long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria. It is one of the most common partners for lipoic acid in longevity formulas.
No authorised UK/EU health claim exists for L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine. We include it at a declared 250mg and describe it as chemistry.
- 250mg per serving
- Acetylated form, declared as such
- Third-party tested
What is coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble quinone found in the inner membrane of mitochondria. It exists in the body in two oxidation states — ubiquinone (oxidised, what plain “CoQ10” means) and ubiquinol (reduced) — and the body converts between them continuously. Being fat-soluble, it is better absorbed with food, which is why the pouch says to take it with a meal.
CoQ10 has no authorised UK/EU health claims — submitted claims were assessed and rejected — so we describe it by dose and form only. See our ubiquinol vs CoQ10 guide for the two forms.
- 100mg per serving
- Fat-soluble — take with food
- Third-party tested
Biotin
Vitamin B7, NRV 50mcg. The one ingredient here with authorised claims: biotin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal macronutrient metabolism and normal functioning of the nervous system. At 500mcg the product is well past the 15% NRV threshold those claims require.
BioPerine®
A branded black pepper (Piper nigrum) extract standardised for piperine, one of the most widely studied dietary co-factors for the bioavailability of compounds taken alongside it. Included as a formulation co-factor — descriptive context, not a health claim.
| Ingredient | Per serving | NRV |
|---|---|---|
| R-Alpha Lipoic Acid | 300 mg | † |
| Acetyl-L-Carnitine | 250 mg | † |
| Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) | 100 mg | † |
| Biotin | 500 mcg | 1000% |
| BioPerine® (Black Pepper) | 5 mg | † |
| Vegetable cellulose capsule | — | — |
How we compare.
Specification comparison vs typical UK-available alpha lipoic acid supplements (spec-sheet analysis, 2026).
| Feature | Vitality R-Alpha Lipoic Acid | Typical UK ALA supplements |
|---|---|---|
| Isomer declared | ✓ R-isomer, 300mg | Usually racemic (50:50 R/S), often not stated |
| R-isomer per serving | ✓ 300mg | 150mg in a 300mg racemic product |
| Companion actives | ✓ ALCAR 250mg + CoQ10 100mg, individually dosed | ALA alone, or partners inside a proprietary blend |
| Biotin | ✓ 500mcg — 1000% NRV, authorised claim earned | Usually absent |
| Claims discipline | ✓ Claim attributed to biotin only | ✗ Antioxidant / blood-sugar wording on ALA is common and unauthorised |
| Capsule | ✓ Vegetable cellulose, vegetarian | Often gelatin |
| Third-party testing | ✓ Yes | Varies — often unstated |
| UK manufacturing | ✓ UK manufactured | Often overseas |
| Money-back guarantee | ✓ 60-day satisfaction guarantee | Varies — often 14 days or none |
The protocol.
Simple and consistent.
Frequently asked questions.
What is R-alpha lipoic acid and how is it different from alpha lipoic acid?
+Alpha lipoic acid is a sulphur-containing compound found in small amounts in foods such as spinach, broccoli and organ meats. It exists as two mirror-image forms, R and S. The R-isomer is the form that occurs naturally in the body; the S-isomer is a by-product of chemical synthesis. Standard alpha lipoic acid supplements are racemic, a 50:50 mix of both, so a 300mg racemic capsule contains 150mg of the R form. This product declares 300mg of the R-isomer.
What is in each serving?
+Per 2-capsule serving: R-Alpha Lipoic Acid 300mg, Acetyl-L-Carnitine 250mg, Coenzyme Q10 100mg, Biotin 500mcg (1000% of the Nutrient Reference Value) and BioPerine black pepper extract 5mg. The three main actives sum to 650mg. Other ingredient: vegetable cellulose capsule.
Does this product have an authorised health claim?
+Yes, but only for the biotin. Biotin carries authorised UK/EU claims including that it contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, and at 500mcg this product provides 1000% of the NRV, well above the 15% threshold that permits the claim. Alpha lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine and CoQ10 have no authorised health claims, so any energy or antioxidant claim on a product like this one belongs to the biotin, not to those three ingredients. We say so plainly.
Why combine R-ALA with acetyl-L-carnitine and CoQ10?
+The three are frequently stacked together in longevity protocols and have been studied together in research settings. We provide that as descriptive context about how the formula was put together, not as a claim about what it does: no authorised health claim exists for any of the three or for the combination.
What form of CoQ10 is used?
+Coenzyme Q10 as labelled on the pouch, 100mg per serving. For an explanation of the ubiquinone and ubiquinol forms and how the body interconverts them, see our ubiquinol vs CoQ10 guide.
Why does it contain BioPerine?
+BioPerine is a branded black pepper extract standardised for piperine, one of the most widely studied dietary co-factors for the bioavailability of compounds taken alongside it. It is included at 5mg as a formulation co-factor; this is descriptive context, not a health claim.
When and how should I take it?
+As a food supplement, adults take 2 capsules daily with water, preferably with food, or as directed by a healthcare professional. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily dose.
Is it vegetarian or vegan?
+The capsule is vegetable cellulose and the product is labelled suitable for vegetarians. We do not label it vegan.
Who should not take it?
+If pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, consult a doctor before use. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use and consult a doctor if adverse reactions occur. Food supplements must not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
What does third-party tested mean here?
+The finished product is tested by an independent third-party laboratory for identity, heavy metals and microbial safety.
What is your returns and satisfaction guarantee policy?
+We offer a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Email us within 60 days of delivery for a full refund — no return required, no restocking fee. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply in addition and are unaffected.
Learn before you commit.
Written for people who want to understand what they’re taking.
The Annual Supply.
One full year of R-Alpha Lipoic Acid at the lowest per-day cost — just 39p a day. For those who already know that consistency is the whole point.
- The lowest per-day cost of any pack
- Free priority UK delivery
- Same third-party tested formula
- Backed by the 60-day satisfaction guarantee
300mg R-isomer. Four named partners.
Every milligram on the label.
R-ALA 300mg · acetyl-L-carnitine 250mg · CoQ10 100mg · biotin 500mcg (1000% NRV) · BioPerine® 5mg · 60 vegetarian capsules · 30 servings. Third-party tested. UK manufactured. 60-day guarantee.
