Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplements Review
Choose the Best
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplement. Some Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplements Cost 13 Times As Much As Others -- But Is It Worth Paying More?
Medically reviewed and
edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. 
Last Updated
: 10/19/2021 | Initially Posted:
12/03/2016Latest Update: Alpha Lipoic Acid Concern
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Table of Contents
Summary
·
What is it? Alpha-lipoic acid (or lipoic acid) assists in converting
glucose into energy (See What It Is). A healthy body naturally produces
enough alpha-lipoic acid but supplementation may help in certain situations.
·
What does it do? Alpha-lipoic acid supplements may
improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, as well as reduce symptoms
of peripheral neuropathy in people with type 2 diabetes. It may also increase
weight and fat loss when combined with a low-calorie diet (See What It Does).
·
Which form? Supplements contain synthetic versions of the naturally
occurring form of alpha-lipoic acid (the R-isomer) or, more commonly, a mixture
the R- and S-isomer forms. The R-isomer is the more active of the two isomers,
however, only mixed forms have been studied for efficacy and side-effects in
clinical trials and are generally much less expensive than R-isomer-only
products. (See What to Consider When Buying).
·
How much to take? The typical dose for treating diabetes,
peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes, and cardiac autonomic
neuropathy is 200 to 400, taken 3 times daily (for a total daily dose ranging
from 600 mg to 1,200 mg). For weight loss, 100 mg alpha-lipoic acid (taken
three times per day with meals), along with a reduced-calorie diet, has shown
to be beneficial. For use as a general antioxidant, a lower dose (20 to 50 mg
daily) is commonly recommended (although there is no evidence this offers any
health benefit). You may be able to halve the dose when using the R-isomer-only
form (See What to Consider When Using).
·
Best choice? Many products passed our tests of quality (See What CL Found). Among Approved products,
ConsumerLab.com identified several which represented its Top Picks.
·
Cautions: Side effects such as skin rash and nausea have been
reported. Alpha lipoic acid may also contribute to acid reflux, as it is an
acid. Because alpha-lipoic acid may help control blood sugar in diabetics,
adjustments may be needed to anti-diabetic medication when using alpha-lipoic
acid. Alpha-lipoic acid may interfere with thyroid function, medication and
diagnostic tests. Although rare, alpha lipoic acid may cause insulin
autoimmunity (See Concerns and Cautions).
What It Is:
Alpha-lipoic
acid (or lipoic acid) is naturally produced in the body, assisting in the
conversion of glucose to energy. It also acts as an antioxidant, able to
neutralize harmful chemicals known as free radicals. It can function in both
water and fat, as opposed to the antioxidants vitamin
E (which works only in fat) and vitamin C (which works only in water). It may
also be able to regenerate these other antioxidants after they have neutralized
free radicals. The naturally occurring form of alpha-lipoic acid is the
R-isomer, which can also be produced synthetically. If a product does not
specifically list the R-isomer-only form, it likely contains a synthetic 50/50
mixture (also called a "racemic" or "rac"
mixture) of the R- and S-forms of alpha-lipoic acid. (See "Mixed form vs. R-isomer form.) The
S-form itself is likely neutral (inactive) (Kilic, Biochem Mol Biol Int 1995) although there is
a patent on the S-form as an analgesic.
What It Does:
Diabetes:
A few small studies have shown that, when taken as an oral supplement in doses
of 600 to 1,800 mg daily, short-term (i.e., for 3 to 5 weeks), alpha-lipoic
acid modestly improved symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in
diabetes patients compared to placebo, reducing symptoms such as burning, pain,
numbness, and prickling of the feet and legs as well as improving sensation.
However, the improvement was small and may not be clinically relevant (i.e., it
may not have a noticeable effect on daily life) (Mijnhout, Int J
Endocrinol 2012). There is evidence that alpha-lipoic acid
supplements may also help diabetic patients by lessening damage of the heart,
kidneys and small blood vessels.
Taking alpha-lipoic acid (300 to 1,200 mg daily) also seems to improve insulin
sensitivity and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, although it
may only slightly reduce levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) according to
results of 6-month study comparing alpha-lipoic acid to placebo (Porasuphatana, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr
2012).
Weight Loss:
Preliminary evidence suggests alpha-lipoic acid may aid weight loss by
promoting the breakdown of fat and inhibiting the formation of new fat cells (Fernandez-Galilea, J Lipid Res 2012; Carrier, J Human Nutr Food Sci 2013). In clinical studies, alpha
lipoic acid supplementation has modestly helped with weight loss when combined
with a reduced-calorie diet. It does not appear to be as effective when taken
without making changes in diet.
Alpha-lipoic acid was shown to increase loss of weight and fat in a study of 77
healthy, but sedentary, overweight/obese women (ages 20 to 50) on a
reduced-calorie diet. Those who took alpha-lipoic acid (300 mg per day) or a
combination of alpha-lipoic acid and the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (1,300 mg per day) for 10 weeks lost
significantly more weight (an average of 15 lbs. and 14 lbs., respectively),
compared to those who took EPA only, or a placebo (average weight loss of 12 lbs and 11.5 lbs, respectively) (Huerta, Obesity 2015).
The women who took alpha-lipoic acid alone or with EPA also lost significantly
more body fat than those who took just EPA, or a placebo. The alpha-lipoic acid
was taken as a single 100 mg capsule (Nature's Bounty) with breakfast,
lunch and dinner. The EPA (433.3 mg EPA (Solutex)
was also taken at those times. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm
these effects.
A study of 55 overweight men and women with borderline-high
triglycerides (averaging 178 mg/dL) who maintained their typical food intake
and physical activity levels found that 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid (as
R-alpha-lipoic acid) taken daily for 24 weeks modestly reduced BMI (body mass
index) compared to placebo (a decrease of 6 kg/m2 vs. an increase of 2 kg/m2). However, supplementation did not
decrease body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, or triglyceride
levels. Two capsules of alpha lipoic acid were taken on an empty stomach 30 min
before breakfast with plenty of fluids. Side effects that were more common with
alpha lipoic acid than with placebo were persistent heartburn and a strong odor
in the urine (Bobe, J Nutr 2020).
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Preliminary research suggests that alpha-lipoic acid may improve insulin
levels and hormones linked with appetite and weight loss in obese people with
NAFLD, but it does not appear to improve weight, markers of liver injury, or
fat content of the liver (steatosis). A placebo-controlled study in
Iran among obese people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition
marked by excessive storage of fat in the liver, found that alpha-lipoic acid,
taken in doses of 600 mg twice daily before meals along with 400 IU of vitamin
E for 12 weeks did not improve body composition, most markers
of liver injury, or steatosis compared to vitamin E with placebo, although
there was an increase in adiponectin levels (a hormone linked with weight loss)
and decrease in insulin levels and leptin (a hormone linked with appetite)
compared to placebo (Hosseinpour-Arjmand, J
Clin Pharm Ther 2019; Rahmanabadi, Food Funct 2019).
Alzheimer's Disease:
A placebo-controlled, 1-year pilot study of 34 adults with
mild to moderate impairment from Alzheimer's disease found that alpha-lipoic
acid and fish oil slowed the decline in subjects' cognitive functioning. The
combination also slowed the decline in subjects' ability to perform daily
activities, as did fish oil alone, but not alpha-lipoic acid alone.
The participants normally ate fish no more than once per week and most
continued to take Alzheimer's medications. A capsule of alpha-lipoic acid (600
mg) was taken each morning along with 2 fish oil capsules (each containing 1
gram of fish oil providing 325 mg EPA and 225 mg DHA in the triglyceride form).
Another fish oil capsule was taken with lunch (Shinto, J Alzheimers Dis 2014).
Although earlier studies have not shown a benefit with omega-3 fatty acids in
Alzheimer's disease, this study differed in that the fish oil had a high ratio
of EPA to DHA.
Other Conditions:
Although there is research suggesting additional potential uses of alpha-lipoic
acid, there are few meaningful studies in humans to support these uses.
Preliminary studies suggest that alpha-lipoic acid might help prevent or treat
a myriad of conditions including age-related hearing loss, glaucoma, cancer,
and cataracts. Some research suggested that alpha-lipoic acid might
be helpful in treating burning mouth syndrome (BMS), a condition
characterized by unexplained scalding sensations in the mouth, but a later
study (using 400 mg of alpha-lipoic acid for 8 weeks) found no benefit compared
to placebo (Carbone, Eur J Pain 2009).
In one study of adults being treated with physical therapy for back pain
with radiating nerve pain, those who took 600 mg of alpha-lipoic
acid and 360 mg of gamma-linolenic
acid (GLA) daily for 6 weeks had a greater reduction in
pain and improvement in function compared to those who did not take these
supplements (Ranieri, Int J Immunopathol
Pharmacol 2009). However, due to the
combination therapy and the lack of a placebo group in this study, the benefit,
if any, of alpha-lipoic acid on radiating nerve pain remains uncertain.
A study in Italy among
210 men and women with mild to moderate nerve, muscle or
non-inflammatory joint pain without a known cause who took either 400
mg of alpha-lipoic acid, 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid, or placebo, once daily
for two months found that both doses of alpha-lipoic acid moderately decreased
self-reported pain compared to baseline (somewhat better results with the
higher dose) while there was no decrease in pain with placebo. Decreases in
pain with alpha-lipoic acid were similar regardless of the type of pain (nerve,
muscle or joint). There were no adverse effects on fasting blood sugar levels
or measures of kidney and liver function (Esposito,
Biomed Pharmacother 2021).
The antioxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid might provide protection in a
number of other conditions including cerebral ischemia, other
causes of damage to brain or neural tissue, mitochondrial
dysfunction, liver disease, and aminoglycoside-induced
cochlear damage. Additionally, the antioxidant effect may be useful
in heavy metal and chemical poisoning as well as radiation
exposure.
Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits replication of the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) in vitro and, in AIDS patients, might improve
blood antioxidant status and increase T-helper lymphocytes and T-helper to
T-helper suppressor cell ratio.
Preliminary research
suggested that alpha-lipoic acid may counteract nerve damage associated
with some chemotherapy. However, a clinical study among people receiving
platinum-based chemotherapy found that taking 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid three
times daily for 24 weeks during chemotherapy did not reduce
the incidence of chemotherapy-related nerve damage compared to placebo (Guo, Support Care Cancer 2014). This study had
a very high dropout rate, which limits the reliability of the results.
Nevertheless, based on this evidence, the American Society of Clinical Oncology
recommends that clinicians not offer alpha-lipoic acid for
preventing chemotherapy-related nerve damage (Loprinzi, J Clin Oncol
2020).
Alpha-lipoic acid has been touted for improving the appearance of aging
skin, but there is no clinical evidence that alpha-lipoic acid taken orally
(as with a supplement) has such an effect. Some benefit, however, was reported
with an alpha-lipoic acid cream (5% alpha lipoic acid that
included small amounts of CoQ10 and acetyl-L-carnitine) (Beitner, Br J Derm 2003).
Applied daily for 12 weeks to the faces of women age 40 to 75, the cream
resulted in a 51% reduction in skin roughness, although the same cream without alpha-lipoic
acid resulted in 41% reduction. Interestingly, the 2003 article reporting this
study noted that a longer study was in progress, although results do not appear
to have been published.
Quality Concerns and
Tests Performed:
Neither
the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests alpha-lipoic acid
supplements for quality prior to sale. Prior studies by ConsumerLab.com have
shown a small percentage of alpha-lipoic acid supplements to lack the full
amount of this ingredient.
Tests
of 13 alpha-lipoic acid supplements purchased on Amazon in October 2020, showed
that six contained less than 75% of their listed amounts. Two of these provided
only 5% (Absonutrix) and 8% (We Like
Vitamins). Average test results for the others were: Amvilab, 94%; Best Naturals, 70%; Boostceuticals, 37%; BRI (arrived
one month away from expiration), 91%; Health Thru Nutrition,
93%; Mental Refreshment, 95%; Nova Nutritions,
70%; NusaPure, 96%; Sun Pure (expired
on arrival), 56%; Superior Labs, 97%; and VitaDirect,
87% (Nutraceuticals World 11/17/20).
The testing was conducted by a competing supplement manufacturer, NOW, which
did not publish results for its own product (although it is included in ConsumerLab's results below). It should be further noted
that the selection of products focused on lesser known brands (none of which
were tested by ConsumerLab.com, as our tests focus on the most popular brands
identified in our annual reader survey).
ConsumerLab.com, as part
of its mission to independently evaluate products that affect health, wellness,
and nutrition, purchased several dietary supplements sold in the U.S. claiming
to contain alpha-lipoic acid. These were tested for their amounts of
alpha-lipoic acid and, if they contained herbal ingredients, were also tested
for potential contamination with heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and arsenic).
Standard tablets and caplets were also tested for their ability to properly
disintegrate ("break apart") as needed for absorption.
What CL Found:
Among ten alpha-lipoic acid supplements that ConsumerLab.com
selected for testing, all were found to contain their claimed amounts of
alpha-lipoic acid. An additional nine products passed testing and review in ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program.
Two of the products, Bronson Laboratories Alpha Lipoic Acid and Nature's
Sunshine Alpha Lipoic Acid, were tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium,
and arsenic) because they contained herbal ingredients (small amounts of
rosemary and turmeric, respectively). Herbal ingredients are more likely than
most others to be contaminated. These products, however, were not contaminated.
ConsumerLab.com tests all regular tablets and caplets for disintegration to be
sure they properly release their ingredients in solution. However, most
products in this Review are regular capsules or softgels
with which there is little concern of incomplete disintegration. One
product, Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid,
is a sustained-release tablet. Such a product is not intended to rapidly
disintegrate, so it was not tested for disintegration.
Only two products listed their chemical forms of alpha lipoic acid, Country
Life R-Lipoic Acid and Jarrow
Formulas R-Alpha Lipoic Acid + Biotin — both of which claim to contain
only the R-isomer, as their product names imply. None of the other products
listed their chemical forms and it is assumed they contained the less
expensive, mixed isomer (or all-RAC) form of alpha lipoic acid. As of the time
of this Review, there was no published and validated method for testing
specifically for the R-isomer of alpha-lipoic acid. Consequently, only the
total alpha-lipoic acid amounts were determined and reported in this review.
See How Product Were Evaluated for
more information about how products were evaluated.
Top Picks:
ConsumerLab.com
determined the cost to obtain an equal amount (100 mg) of alpha lipoic acid
from each of the products based on the prices paid. As shown in the last column
of the table below, the lowest cost per 100 mg was 3 cents and the highest was
41 cents (from a multi-ingredient product). Among supplements providing what is
likely to be the synthetic, mixed isomer form of alpha-lipoic
acid, CL's Top Picks are Vitacost
Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 mg and Natrol
Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg (time release). Both of these CL Approved
products provide alpha lipoic acid for just 3 cents per 100 mg, and Natrol includes 100 mg of calcium (about 10% of
the Daily Value). Although not tested, Sundown Naturals Alpha Lipoic
Acid 600 mg is also 3 cents per 100 mg and is very similar to a
product which passed testing, Vitamin World Extra Strength Alpha Lipoic
Acid 600 mg, which is priced higher.
If you want R-isomer only alpha-lipoic acid (i.e., the natural
form, although the ingredient in supplements is typically produced
synthetically), you'll need to pay a lot more. Both Country Life
R-Lipoic Acid and Jarrow
Formulas R-Alpha Lipoic Acid each provide 100 mg per capsule for 29
cents, with Jarrow including 150 mcg
(100% of the Daily Value) of biotin. Of these
two, Jarrow is the CL Top
Pick for R-isomer only alpha lipoic acid because, unlike Country
Life, it identifies its source of ingredient as Bio-Enhanced Na-RALA which
may be a more stable and bioavailable form then pure R-isomer alpha-lipoic acid
— which is also more prone to polymerizing and becoming "sticky" over
time. However, the price for either R-isomer-only product is about 10 times
that from a mixed isomer alpha lipoic acid product like Vitacost, and still about four times the cost based
on the amount R-isomer you'll get.
So, is it is worth paying more for these R-isomer-only products? Based
on the current evidence, it's not clear that it's worth it.
Although laboratory studies suggest that the R-isomer is the most active
component in alpha lipoic acid (it is the natural form, after all) and there's
a little evidence suggesting a negative effect of the S-isomer (the unnatural
form which makes up half of the mixed isomer products), 50% of what you get
from a mixed isomer product is the R-isomer -- and you can get
it for only one-quarter the price you'd pay from an R-isomer only product.
Perhaps most importantly, all the clinical trials to-date — many of which have
shown benefits -- were conducted using the mixed form. There are no published
clinical trials using the commercially sold R-isomer-only ingredient, meaning
that it has not yet been shown to be effective and potential adverse effects
have not been evaluated.
Test Results by Product:
Listed
alphabetically below are the test results for 19 alpha-lipoic acid supplements.
Ten were selected by ConsumerLab.com for testing and nine others (each
indicated with a CL Flask) are included for having passed the same evaluation
through ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification
Program. Also listed are three products similar to others which
passed testing.
The full list of ingredients is available for each product by clicking on the
word "Ingredients" in the first column. Products listed as
"Approved" met their label claim and ConsumerLab.com's
standards for alpha-lipoic acid products. Pricing information, additional
ingredients, and some special designations can be found in the last column.
|
RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF ALPHA LIPOIC ACID
SUPPLEMENTS |
||||||
|
Product Name, Amount
Alpha Lipoic Acid per Unit, Serving Size, and Suggested Daily Serving on
Label |
Claimed Amount of
Alpha Lipoic Acid Per Suggested Daily Serving |
--TEST RESULTS-- |
Cost For Daily
Suggested Serving On Label |
|||
|
OVERALL RESULTS: |
Contained Labeled
Amount of Alpha Lipoic Acid |
|||||
|
Alpha Betic® Alpha
Lipoic Acid (200 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, once to three times daily) |
200 mg to 600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.17-$0.50 |
||
|
Bronson Laboratories® Alpha Lipoic Acid (100
mg per capsule; 1 capsule, twice daily) |
200 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.15 |
||
|
Country Life® R-Lipoic Acid (100 mg per vegan
capsule; 1 vegan capsule, once daily) |
100 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.29 |
||
|
GNC Alpha-Lipoic Acid 600 mg (600 mg per
caplet; 1 caplet, once caplet)6 |
600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.29 |
||
|
Jarrow Formulas® R-Alpha Lipoic Acid + Biotin (100
mg per capsule; 1 capsule, once daily) |
100 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.29 |
||
|
Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid (600 mg per time release
tablet; 1 tablet, once daily) |
600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.17 |
||
|
Nature's Sunshine® Alpha Lipoic Acid (250 mg
per capsule; 1 capsule, twice daily) |
500 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$1.03 |
||
|
NOW® Alpha Lipoic Acid (250 mg per veg
capsule; 1 veg capsule, once daily) |
250 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.17 |
||
|
Olympian Labs, Inc.® Alpha Lipoic Acid (400 mg
per vegetarian capsule; 1 vegetarian capsule, once to twice daily) |
400 mg to 800 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.36-$0.71 |
||
|
Ortho Molecular Products® Lipoic Acid (300 mg
per capsule; 1 capsule, once daily) |
300 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.70 |
||
|
Pure Encapsulations® Metabolic Xtra (100 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, once to three times
daily) |
100 mg to 300 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.41-$1.23 |
||
|
Radiance Platinum® [CVS] Alpha Lipoic Acid
(200 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, twice daily) |
400 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.26 |
||
|
Solgar® Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg (200 mg per
vegetable capsule; 1 vegetable capsule, twice daily) |
400 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.57 |
||
|
Spring Valley™ [Walmart] Alpha Lipoic Acid 200
mg (200 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, three times daily) |
600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.22 |
||
|
Twinlab® Alpha Lipoic Acid (100 mg per capsule, 1
capsule, once daily)7 |
100 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.30 |
||
|
Vitacost® Alpha Lipoic Acid (300 mg per capsule; 1
capsule, once daily) |
300 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.10 |
||
|
Vitamin World® Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg (200
mg per capsule; 1 capsule, three times daily) |
600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.64 |
||
|
Vitamin World® Extra Strength Alpha Lipoic
Acid 600 mg (600 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, once to twice daily) |
600 mg to 1,200 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.36-$0.72 |
||
|
Vitamin World® Triple Strength Alpha Lipoic
Acid 300 mg (300 mg per softgel; 1 softgel, twice daily) |
600 mg |
APPROVED |
|
$0.48 |
||
|
Similar to Approved Products*: |
||||||
|
Nature's Bounty® Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg (200
mg per capsule; 1 capsule, twice daily) |
Similar to Vitamin World®
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg. |
$0.66 |
||||
|
Puritan's Pride® Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 mg (300
mg per softgel; 1 softgel,
twice daily) |
Similar to Vitamin
World® Triple Strength Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 mg. |
$0.50 |
||||
|
Sundown Naturals® Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg
(600 mg per capsule; 1 capsule, once daily) |
Similar to Vitamin
World® Extra Strength Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg. |
$0.17 |
||||
|
|
||||||
|
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products
listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for
this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label
information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating
the products you use or buy. If a product's
ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of
the same quality as what was tested. |
||||||
|
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2016. All rights reserved.
Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express
written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC. |
||||||
ConsumerTips™:
What to
Consider When Buying:
Strength:
Alpha-lipoic acid comes in a wide range of pill strengths. In fact, over the
years, ConsumerLab.com has seen manufacturers'
suggested daily serving sizes range from 30 mg to 1,200 mg per day. So be sure
to choose a product that will allow you to conveniently get the dose that you
need (see Dosage information below), which is not necessarily the amount
suggested on the label.
Mixed form vs. R-isomer natural form:
Clinical trials to date with alpha-lipoic acid used a form consisting of equal
amounts of R (or D) and S (or L) isomers. This mixed (or "racemic")
form is the most commonly available type of alpha-lipoic acid on the market.
Both forms can significantly increase plasma levels of the active, R-isomer of
alpha-lipoic acid, although, theoretically, a dose of R-isomer ingredient would
be equal to twice that amount of mixed isomer. Some animal studies suggest that
the R-isomer (which is the naturally occurring form) may be more effective in
improving insulin sensitivity than the S-isomer, but clinical studies in humans
have not yet been conducted to determine the relative effectiveness and safety
of the R-isomer.
Products claiming to contain only the R isomer of alpha-lipoic acid are
available on the market and are generally more expensive than the mixed form.
For example, among the products purchased for this Review, the R-isomer only
form (in the products by Jarrow and
Country Life) was nearly 10 times as expensive as the lowest priced
mixed isomer product. The product from Jarrow identified
the source of its R-isomer alpha lipoic acid as "BioEnhanced
Na-RALA." Information online about this
ingredient indicates that it is a sodium salt (about 10 mg of
salt per 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid) which stabilizes the compound and enables
it to achieve a much higher peak blood level of R-lipoic acid than a pure
R-lipoic acid product.
What to Consider When Using:
Dosage:
Although a healthy body makes enough alpha-lipoic acid to supply its
requirements, and you can get some alpha-lipoic acid from liver and yeast,
supplementation is necessary to get therapeutic dosages. The typical dosage of
oral alpha-lipoic acid (mixed isomer form) for treating diabetes, peripheral
neuropathy associated with diabetes, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy is 600 to
1,200 mg per day divided into three equal doses. In a study in people with
Alzheimer's disease, a single 600 mg dose was given along with fish oil (Shinto, J Alzheimers Dis 2014).
Several weeks of treatment are often necessary for full effects to develop. For
peripheral neuropathy, there is some preliminary evidence that alpha-lipoic
acid may be more effective if it is combined with GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), another
supplement.
For use as a general antioxidant, a lower dosage of 20 to 50 mg daily is
commonly recommended; although there is no evidence that taking alpha-lipoic
acid in this way offers any health benefit.
For weight loss, 100 mg alpha-lipoic acid taken three times per day with meals
has been shown enhance weight and fat loss in overweight/obese women on a
reduced-calorie diet (Huerta, Obesity 2015).
Note, if you are using the R-isomer-only form of alpha-lipoic acid, you may be
able to reduce the doses above (which are based on studies using the mixed
isomer form) by as much as half due to the likely greater activity of the
R-isomer form, which makes up only 50% of mixed isomer alpha-lipoic acid. Storage:
Store at room temperature and away from moisture and heat. Consider
refrigerating opened bottles, as heat and humidity can cause the powder in
capsules to bind and become putty-like or hard, which could potentially reduce
absorption in the digestive tract.
Concerns and Cautions:
·
Skin rash and nausea has been reported with use of
alpha-lipoic acid.
·
Keep in mind that alpha lipoic acid is an acid (a little
stronger than acetic acid in vinegar) and may be problematic if you suffer
from acid reflux or stomach ulcers. Burning sensations in the
throat to the stomach, and acid reflux, have been reported with high daily
doses (800 — 1,800 mg) of alpha-lipoic acid; people taking stomach acid
blocking medications such as famotidine (Pepcid) or proton pump inhibitors such
as esomeprazole (Nexium) may be less likely to experience these effects (Gu, Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2010; Sarezky, Clin Ophthalmol 2016).
Enteric coated alpha lipoic acid supplements may also help to prevent stomach
irritation, as may timed-release products.
·
Because alpha-lipoic acid may help control blood sugar in
diabetics, adjustments may be needed to anti-diabetic medication when
using alpha-lipoic acid.
·
Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) may
be caused by the use of alpha-lipoic acid, although rare. It is thought that a
metabolite of alpha-lipoic acid may trigger autoantibodies to insulin, leading
to a high concentration of total serum immunoreactive insulin, causing
spontaneous fasting hypoglycemia. Symptoms of IAS include sweating,
shakiness, and weakness. Symptoms have typically occurred with 1 week to 4
months of taking alpha lipoic acid (no specific dose). The condition is
generally reversible with discontinuing alpha lipoic acid, but some patients
have required pharmacologic treatment. People of Japanese, Korean, and Southern
European ancestry may be genetically more predisposed to IAS than others (Turck, EFSA Journal 2021).
·
Patients with thyroid disease should be aware that alpha-lipoic
acid may affect thyroid function and treatment. Alpha-lipoic acid
appears to interfere with the conversion of T4 (thyroxine) to T3
(triiodothyronine), lowering T3 levels (Segermann, Arzneimittelforschung 1991). TSH (thyroid-stimulating
hormone) may increase.
·
Very large doses of alpha-lipoic acid have caused serious
toxicity in thiamine-deficient animals. People taking high doses of
alpha-lipoic acid who are at risk for thiamine deficiency, such as
alcoholics, may require thiamine supplementation. (There is preliminary
research suggesting that some diabetics may also be low in thiamine.)
·
Although there is preliminary evidence that alpha-lipoic acid
may counteract neuropathy associated with some chemotherapy, there
is also a theoretical risk that anti-oxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid may
decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Discuss with your healthcare
provider before using alpha-lipoic acid while taking chemotherapy.
Information on this site
is provided for informational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of any
product nor is it meant to substitute for the advice provided by physicians or
other healthcare professionals. The information contained herein should not be
used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Consumers should
inform their healthcare providers of the dietary supplements they take.
Latest Clinical Research Updates for Alpha Lipoic Acid
Supplements
10/20/2021
Although rare, use of
alpha-lipoic acid may trigger autoantibodies to insulin. Be aware of
this and other potential side effects of alpha-lipoic aid use, which are
discussed in the Concerns and Cautions section of our
Alpha Lipoic Acid Review.
10/19/2021
Can taking alpha-lipoic
acid decrease nerve, muscle or joint pain? See what a new study found in
the What It Does section of our Alpha Lipoic
Acid Review. Also see our Top Picks for alpha-lipoic acid.
Can Alpha-Lipoic Acid Lower Weight?
7/28/2020
Alpha-lipoic acid was
given to overweight men and women for 24 weeks in a recent study. Find out if
it lowered weight and triglyceride levels in the What It Does section
of the Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for alpha-lipoic acid.
4/30/2020
A CL member reported
experiencing acid reflux when using alpha lipoic acid. This effect has been
reported in clinical studies with higher doses -- which is not surprising
consider that alpha lipoic acid is, after all, an acid. Ways to avoid this
issue are discussed in the Concerns and Cautions section
of the Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for alpha
lipoic acid.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Improves Results When Dieting
2/28/2015
Women who took alpha
lipoic acid while dieting lost significantly more weight and body fat than
those who only reduced their calorie intake, according to a new study. For the
dose, how it was taken, plus our tests of popular alpha lipoic acid products, see
the Alpha Lipoic Acid Review >>