I'm sorry if this article hurts your sales, but I'm just presenting the facts as shown in the literature I've cited as part of the article.
BUT, if you'd like them pointed out:
7: Loeffelhardt S, Borbe HO, Locher M, Bisswanger H. In vivo incorporation of lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherichia coli. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1996 Sep 13;1297(1):90-8.
8: Loffelhardt S, Bonaventura C, Locher M, Borbe HO, Bisswanger H. Interaction of alpha-lipoic acid enantiomers and homologues with the enzyme components of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Biochem Pharmacol. 1995 Aug 25;50(5):637-46.
9: Maitra I, Serbinova E, Tritschler HJ, Packer L. Stereospecific effects of R-lipoic acid on buthionine sulfoximine-induced cataract formation in newborn rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1996 Apr 16;221(2):422-9.
10: Oehring R, Bisswanger H. Incorporation of the enantiomers of lipoic acid into the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherichia coli in vivo. Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler. 1992 Jun;373(6):333-5.
14: Schempp H, Ulrich H, Elstner EF. Stereospecific reduction of R(+)-thioctic acid by porcine heart lipoamide dehydrogenase/diaphorase. Z Naturforsch [C]. 1994 Sep-Oct;49(9-10):691-2.
15: Streeper RS, Henriksen EJ, Jacob S, Hokama JY, Fogt DL, Tritschler HJ. Differential effects of lipoic acid stereoisomers on glucose metabolism in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol. 1997 Jul;273(1 Pt 1):E185-91.
18: Zimmer G, Beikler TK, Schneider M, Ibel J, Tritschler H, Ulrich H. Dose/response curves of lipoic acid R-and S-forms in the working rat heart during reoxygenation: superiority of the R-enantiomer in enhancement of aortic flow. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1995 Sep;27(9):1895-903.
19: Zimmer G, Mainka L, Ulrich H. ATP synthesis and ATPase activities in heart mitoplasts under influence of R- and S-enantiomers of lipoic acid. Methods Enzymol. 1995;251:332-40.
Enough to demonstrate the superiority of the R enantiomer? I would say so.
-M