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Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant the body makes in small amounts, helping cells produce energy and limit oxidative stress. Most people look at it for diabetic neuropathy, where the evidence is strong, though related studies found only a small improvement in fasting blood glucose and no clear difference in blood pressure. The glucose finding came from just 38 people, and one trial found no clear difference in overall blood sugar control.

Sources: PMID 15327583; PMID 18795893; PMID 21371770

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
21
Outcomes
40
Graded outcomes
00410

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

21 conditions

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

Small Decrease

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect4 studies60 people

Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers

Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile

No effect

NoneNo effect1 study60 people

Studies that measured anti-oxidant enzyme profile

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Inflammation

Small decrease in inflammation markers

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies20 people

Studies that measured inflammation

Rheumatoid Arthritis SymptomsChanges; see studies20 people

General Cardiovascular Health

  • Blood Flow: improves
General Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Flow

Small increase in blood flow

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect1 study40 people

Studies that measured blood flow

Type 2 Diabetes

  • Blood glucose: improves
  • Glycemic Control
  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
Type 2 Diabetes: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small improvement in fasting blood glucose

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect38 people
Glycemic Control

No effect on overall glycemic control

NoneNo effect1 study102 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies59 people

Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers

HbA1cChanges; see studies2 studies54 people

Studies that measured hba1c

Obesity

  • Blood Pressure
  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
  • Weight: changes; see studies
Obesity: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect on blood pressure

NoneNo effect3 studies1,127 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies24 people

Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers

WeightChanges; see studies2 studies1,511 people

Studies that measured weight

Glycemic ControlImproves (the measure goes up)1 study24 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

LDL OxidationChanges; see studies1 study24 people

Studies that measured ldl oxidation

Metabolic Health

  • Blood Pressure
Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect on blood pressure

NoneNo effect3 studies16 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

Diabetic Neuropathy

  • Blood Pressure
  • HbA1c: changes; see studies
  • Weight: changes; see studies
Diabetic Neuropathy: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect on blood pressure

NoneNo effect3 studies460 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

HbA1cChanges; see studies2 studies460 people

Studies that measured hba1c

WeightChanges; see studies2 studies460 people

Studies that measured weight

Diabetic Neuropathy SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study460 people

Studies that measured diabetic neuropathy symptoms

Metabolic Syndrome

  • Blood Pressure
  • Inflammation: changes; see studies
Metabolic Syndrome: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect3 studies58 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

InflammationChanges; see studies2 studies58 people

Studies that measured inflammation

Peripheral Arterial Disease

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
  • Intermittent Claudication Symptoms: changes; see studies
Peripheral Arterial Disease: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

No effect

NoneNo effect2 studies28 people

Studies that measured c-reactive protein (crp)

Intermittent Claudication SymptomsChanges; see studies28 people

End-Stage Renal Disease

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
End-Stage Renal Disease: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

No effect

NoneNo effect2 studies63 people

Studies that measured c-reactive protein (crp)

Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies63 people

Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers

Infertility

  • Seminal Motility
  • Sperm Count: improves
  • Sperm Quality: improves
Infertility: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Seminal Motility

No effect on sperm motility

NoneNo effect60 people
Sperm CountImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies

Studies that measured sperm count

Sperm QualityImproves (the measure goes up)

Migraine Headache

  • Migraine Duration
  • Migraine Frequency: changes; see studies
  • Migraine Severity: changes; see studies
Migraine Headache: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Migraine Duration

No effect on migraine duration

NoneNo effect123 people
Migraine FrequencyChanges; see studies1 study123 people

Studies that measured migraine frequency

Migraine SeverityChanges; see studies123 people

Immune Health

  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
Immune Health: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies33 people

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies33 people

Muscle Recovery

  • Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: changes; see studies
Muscle Recovery: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies4 studies33 people

Dementia

  • Dementia Symptoms: changes; see studies
Dementia: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Dementia SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study53 people

Chronic Low Back Pain

  • Nerve Repair: improves
Chronic Low Back Pain: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Nerve RepairImproves (the measure goes up)1 study203 people

Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Dementia Symptoms: changes; see studies
Alzheimer’s Disease: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Dementia SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study53 people

High Blood Pressure

  • Blood Flow: improves
High Blood Pressure: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood FlowImproves (the measure goes up)1 study30 people

General Athletic Performance

  • Muscle Creatine Content: improves
General Athletic Performance: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Muscle Creatine ContentImproves (the measure goes up)1 study16 people

Acute Mountain Sickness

  • Motion Sickness Symptoms: changes; see studies
Acute Mountain Sickness: outcomes studied for Alpha-Lipoic Acid
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Motion Sickness SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study83 people

Key findings

  • Oxidative Stress BiomarkersSickle Cell DiseaseImproves (the measure goes down)
  • InflammationRheumatoid Arthritis (RA)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • Blood FlowImproves (the measure goes up)

Shop Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Third-party tested Alpha-Lipoic Acid products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

25 studies from PubMed

  1. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in peripheral arterial disease: a pilot studyJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 17604563
  2. Down syndrome and dementia: a randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementationAm J Med Genet A · PMID 21739598
  3. Effects of antioxidant supplements intervention on the level of plasma inflammatory molecules and disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis patientsJ Am Coll Nutr · PMID 19571161
  4. Effect of α-lipoic acid and exercise training on cardiovascular disease risk in obesity with impaired glucose toleranceLipids Health Dis · PMID 22107734
  5. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation: a tool for obesity therapy?Curr Pharm Des · PMID 20388095
  6. Effects of alpha-lipoic Acid on body weight in obese subjectsAm J Med · PMID 21187189
  7. Oral antioxidant supplementation does not prevent acute mountain sickness: double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trialQJM · PMID 19273551
  8. A 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 · PMID 21782664
  9. Glycemic 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 · PMID 22374556
  10. Complementary therapy in diabetic patients with chronic complications: a pilot studyBratisl Lek Listy · PMID 20586147
  11. The 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 · PMID 21371770
  12. Alpha-lipoic acid does not acutely affect resistance and conduit artery function or oxidative stress in healthy menBr J Clin Pharmacol · PMID 15327583
  13. Effects 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 · PMID 21908204
  14. Alpha-lipoic acid improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with subclinical hypothyroidismExp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes · PMID 20162509
  15. Irbesartan 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 · PMID 15655130
  16. Oral antioxidants and cardiovascular health in the exercise-trained and untrained elderly: a radically different outcomeClin Sci · PMID 18795893
  17. Effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid on exercise-induced activation of coagulationMetabolism · PMID 15931620
  18. Efficacy and safety of antioxidant treatment with α-lipoic acid over 4 years in diabetic polyneuropathy: the NATHAN 1 trialDiabetes Care · PMID 21775755
  19. Alpha-lipoic acid improves vascular endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: a placebo-controlled randomized trialEur J Clin Invest · PMID 20050880
  20. Effect of alpha-lipoic acid combined with creatine monohydrate on human skeletal muscle creatine and phosphagen concentrationInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab · PMID 14669930
  21. Alpha-lipoic acid modifies oxidative stress parameters in sickle cell trait subjects and sickle cell patientsClin Nutr · PMID 19231043
  22. The 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 · PMID 19887043
  23. Assessment of the antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid in healthy men exposed to muscle-damaging exerciseJ Physiol Pharmacol · PMID 19617657
  24. Restoration of blood total glutathione status and lymphocyte function following alpha-lipoic acid supplementation in patients with HIV infectionJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 18315507
  25. Efficacy of Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation in Sperm Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.Int Braz J Urol · PMID 40327515

Protocols that include Alpha-Lipoic Acid