Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Supplements · Antioxidants · Supplement, Typed Supps
An antioxidant your body already makes, in small amounts.
Stage by stage
- Intake (Capsule): Absorbed efficiently, better on an empty stomach.
- Small intestine (Efficient absorption): Absorbed efficiently, better on an empty stomach.
- Bloodstream (Water- and fat-soluble): Unusual among antioxidants for working in both water and fat environments.
- Mitochondria & nerves (Energy and nerve support): Used for energy production and studied for nerve-related and blood sugar effects.
What the evidence supports
- Improving symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy — limited evidence. Evidence is genuinely split: several meta-analyses (especially of intravenous 600 mg) are positive, while a 2024 Cochrane review of oral ALA concluded it probably has little or no effect on symptoms. Oral evidence is weaker than the marketing implies.
- Modestly lowering blood glucose or HbA1c — limited evidence. Some trials show small reductions in glucose or insulin resistance, but effects are modest and inconsistent.
Typical dose
600 mg/day orally is the most-studied and best risk-to-benefit dose
Upper limit: No established UL; higher doses (1200–1800 mg) increase side effects without clearly greater benefit
Timing
Empty stomach for best absorption.
Time to effect
- Weeks: Reported nerve-related or blood sugar effects in studies.
Medication interactions
- Diabetes medicines (insulin, sulfonylureas): Additive blood-sugar lowering that can cause hypoglycaemia, sometimes within days of starting. (moderate)
- Thyroid medication (e.g. levothyroxine): May interfere with thyroid hormone activity; monitoring is advised. (moderate)
Common myth
“ALA reverses nerve damage.” In reality: Most evidence relates to modestly reducing nerve-related symptoms, not reversing existing damage.
Food sources
More in Antioxidants
In the glossary
Sources