[0031] "Alpha-lipoic acid", abbreviated "ALA" herein, refers to an organosulfur compound derived from octanoic acid having the molecular formula C81-114S202.
Generally, ALA contains two sulfur atoms attached via a disulfide bond. As used herein the terms "lipoic acid", abbreviated "LA", and "alpha-lipoic acid", abbreviated "ALA", and their respective abbreviations may be used interchangeably.