ABSTRACT
The potential therapeutic actions of orally supplied LA can be appreciated only with an understanding of its bioavailability, tissue accumulation, and metabolic fate. It is apparent that cells maintain active systems to transport, utilize, and excrete non-protein-bound LA. Dietary bioavailability studies show that an oral LA dose is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and appreciably increases plasma LA levels. Approximately 20%–40% of LA from an oral dose appears in the plasma (Bernkop-Schnurch et al. 2004; Mignini et al. 2007; Carlson et al. 2007; Teichert et al. 1998, 2003, 2005; Breithaupt-Grogler et al. 1999; Evans et al. 2002; Amenta et al. 2008). This high variability is dictated, in part, by the dose given, the food matrix involved, and whether the tablet is controlled release.
