Alpha-Lipoic Acid

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    Peter Woznik, Bill Willis

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    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner, Gregory Lopez
    Last Updated: July 25, 2023

    Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a mitochondrial compound involved in energy metabolism. It is commonly taken with L-Carnitine supplements, as they are related in mechanisms. ALA provides a short but potent reduction of oxidation by increasing antioxidant enzymes, and may decrease blood glucose acutely.

    49 references on this page
    2,948 participants in 24 trials and 2 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Dosage information

    Standard dosages of Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) tend to be in the range of 300-600mg, with little differentiation based on whether the racemic mixture of ALA (S- and R- isomers) or Na-R-ALA results in higher blood levels.

    ALA appears to be absorbed via transporter-related means, and despite being inherently fat-soluble it does not require dietary fatty acids to be absorbed from the gut. ALA supplementation can be taken in a fasted state.

    Examine Database: Alpha-Lipoic Acid

    Type 2 Diabetes
    General Cardiovascular Health
    Metabolic Health
    Obesity
    Alzheimer’s Disease
    High Blood Pressure
    Infertility
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Acute Mountain Sickness
    Chronic Low Back Pain
    Dementia
    Diabetic Neuropathy
    End-Stage Renal Disease
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus
    Immune Health
    Metabolic Syndrome
    Muscle Recovery
    Peripheral Arterial Disease
    Sickle Cell Disease
    General Athletic Performance

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Vincent HK, Bourguignon CM, Vincent KR, Taylor AGEffects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: a pilot studyJ Altern Complement Med.(2007 Jun)
    2. Dementia Symptoms - Lott IT, Doran E, Nguyen VQ, Tournay A, Head E, Gillen DLDown syndrome and dementia: a randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementationAm J Med Genet A.(2011 Aug)
    3. Inflammation - Bae SC, Jung WJ, Lee EJ, Yu R, Sung MKEffects of antioxidant supplements intervention on the level of plasma inflammatory molecules and disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis patientsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2009 Feb)
    4. LDL Oxidation - Andrea M McNeilly, Gareth W Davison, Marie H Murphy, Nida Nadeem, Tom Trinick, Ellie Duly, Anna Novials, Jane McEnenyEffect of α-lipoic acid and exercise training on cardiovascular disease risk in obesity with impaired glucose toleranceLipids Health Dis.(2011 Nov 22)
    5. Weight - M G Carbonelli, L Di Renzo, M Bigioni, N Di Daniele, A De Lorenzo, M A FuscoAlpha-lipoic acid supplementation: a tool for obesity therapy?Curr Pharm Des.(2010)
    6. Weight - Koh EH, Lee WJ, Lee SA, Kim EH, Cho EH, Jeong E, Kim DW, Kim MS, Park JY, Park KG, Lee HJ, Lee IK, Lim S, Jang HC, Lee KH, Lee KUEffects of alpha-lipoic Acid on body weight in obese subjectsAm J Med.(2011 Jan)
    7. Motion Sickness Symptoms - Baillie JK, Thompson AA, Irving JB, Bates MG, Sutherland AI, Macnee W, Maxwell SR, Webb DJOral antioxidant supplementation does not prevent acute mountain sickness: double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trialQJM.(2009 May)
    8. HbA1c - Coleman MD, Fernandes S, Khanderia LA preliminary evaluation of a novel method to monitor a triple antioxidant combination (vitamins E, C and α-lipoic acid) in diabetic volunteers using in vitro methaemoglobin formationEnviron Toxicol Pharmacol.(2003 Jun)
    9. HbA1c - Porasuphatana S, Suddee S, Nartnampong A, Konsil J, Harnwong B, Santaweesuk AGlycemic and oxidative status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled studyAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2012)
    10. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - P Palacka, J Kucharska, J Murin, K Dostalova, A Okkelova, M Cizova, I Waczulikova, S Moricova, A GvozdjakovaComplementary therapy in diabetic patients with chronic complications: a pilot studyBratisl Lek Listy.(2010)
    11. Glycemic Control - de Oliveira AM, Rondó PH, Luzia LA, D'Abronzo FH, Illison VKThe effects of lipoic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation on the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialDiabetes Res Clin Pract.(2011 May)
    12. Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile - Martins VD, Manfredini V, Peralba MC, Benfato MSAlpha-lipoic acid modifies oxidative stress parameters in sickle cell trait subjects and sickle cell patientsClin Nutr.(2009 Apr)
    13. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Jariwalla RJ, Lalezari J, Cenko D, Mansour SE, Kumar A, Gangapurkar B, Nakamura DRestoration of blood total glutathione status and lymphocyte function following alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in patients with HIV infectionJ Altern Complement Med.(2008 Mar)
    14. Blood Pressure - Sharman JE, Gunaruwan P, Knez WL, Schmitt M, Marsh SA, Wilson GR, Cockcroft JR, Coombes JSAlpha-lipoic acid does not acutely affect resistance and conduit artery function or oxidative stress in healthy menBr J Clin Pharmacol.(2004 Sep)
    15. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - Khabbazi T, Mahdavi R, Safa J, Pour-Abdollahi PEffects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Serum Lipid Profile Levels in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on HemodialysisJ Ren Nutr.(2011 Sep 10)
    16. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - G D X, J H P, H L S, L S ZAlpha-lipoic acid improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with subclinical hypothyroidismExp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes.(2010 Oct)
    17. Inflammation - Sola S, Mir MQ, Cheema FA, Khan-Merchant N, Menon RG, Parthasarathy S, Khan BVIrbesartan and lipoic acid improve endothelial function and reduce markers of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: results of the Irbesartan and Lipoic Acid in Endothelial Dysfunction (ISLAND) studyCirculation.(2005 Jan 25)
    18. Blood Pressure - Wray DW, Uberoi A, Lawrenson L, Bailey DM, Richardson RSOral antioxidants and cardiovascular health in the exercise-trained and untrained elderly: a radically different outcomeClin Sci (Lond).(2009 Mar)
    19. Blood Pressure - Weiss C, Bierhaus A, Nawroth PP, Bärtsch PEffects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid on exercise-induced activation of coagulationMetabolism.(2005 Jun)
    20. Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms - Ziegler D, Low PA, Litchy WJ, Boulton AJ, Vinik AI, Freeman R, Samigullin R, Tritschler H, Munzel U, Maus J, Schütte K, Dyck PJEfficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with α-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trialDiabetes Care.(2011 Sep)
    21. Blood Flow - Heinisch BB, Francesconi M, Mittermayer F, Schaller G, Gouya G, Wolzt M, Pleiner JAlpha-lipoic acid improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a placebo-controlled randomized trialEur J Clin Invest.(2010 Feb)
    22. Muscle Creatine Content - Darren G Burke, Philip D Chilibeck, Gianni Parise, Mark A Tarnopolsky, Darren G CandowEffect of alpha-lipoic acid combined with creatine monohydrate on human skeletal muscle creatine and phosphagen concentrationInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2003 Sep)
    23. Nerve Repair - Ranieri M, Sciuscio M, Cortese AM, Santamato A, Di Teo L, Ianieri G, Bellomo RG, Stasi M, Megna MThe use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and rehabilitation in the treatment of back pain: effect on health-related quality of lifeInt J Immunopathol Pharmacol.(2009 Jul-Sep)
    24. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Zembron-Lacny A, Slowinska-Lisowska M, Szygula Z, Witkowski K, Stefaniak T, Dziubek WAssessment of the antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy men exposed to muscle-damaging exerciseJ Physiol Pharmacol.(2009 Jun)
    25. Sperm Count - Pires IZ, Gobbo MODS, Sudo RYU, Milbradt TL, Marquardt N Filho, Carvalhal GF, Da Ros CTEfficacy of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Sperm Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.Int Braz J Urol.(2025 Jul-Aug)