Sherif S, Bendas ER, Badawy S. The clinical efficacy of cosmeceutical application of liquid crystalline nanostructured dispersions of alpha lipoic acid as anti-wrinkle. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2014;86(2):251-9. doi:10.1016/j.ejpb.2013.09.008 Ghibu, S., Richard, C., Delemasure, S., Vergely, C., Mogosan, C., and Muresan, A. [An endogenous dithiol with antioxidant properties: alpha-lipoic acid, potential uses in cardiovascular diseases]. Ann Cardiol.Angeiol.(Paris) 2008;57(3):161-165. View abstract.

Fu Y. Effects of alpha lipoic acid and mecobalamin on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Chinese Journal of Practical Internal Medicine. 2008;28:81-83. Oral dosage of alpha-lipoic acid given in numerous clinical studies ranges from 200 to 1,800 mg daily. It also is given intravenously at similar daily dosages. Contraindications Huang, E. A. and Gitelman, S. E. The effect of oral alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative stress in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Pediatr.Diabetes 2008;9(3 Pt 2):69-73. View abstract. Alcohol (ethyl): Alcohol (ethyl) may diminish the therapeutic effect of alpha-lipoic acid. Avoid combination.( 65)Kim, E., Park, D. W., Choi, S. H., Kim, J. J., and Cho, H. S. A preliminary investigation of alpha-lipoic acid treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain in patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2008;28(2):138-146. View abstract. Cisplatin: Alpha-lipoic acid may diminish the therapeutic effect of cisplatin. Monitor therapy.( 65, 66) Small studies utilizing ALA in Alzheimer disease have been reported. Nine patients with Alzheimer-related dementias were given ALA 600 mg for an average of 337 days. The treatment led to stabilization of cognitive function as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog).( 11) Though the study was small and not randomized, it suggests that treatment with ALA is a possible neuroprotective therapy option for Alzheimer disease and related dementias. Five RCTs and one meta-analysis were found. The Total Symptom Score (TSS) was used as the primary outcome measure. A significant improvement in the TSS was reported in four of the RCTs. An oral or intravenous alpha lipoic dose of at least 600 mg per day resulted in a 50% reduction in the TSS. However, compared with the control group, the TSS reduction in most groups was less than 30%, which is the threshold presumed to be clinically relevant. Four RCTs were of good quality (level of evidence 1b), one RCT had methodological limitations (level 2b), and the methodological quality of the meta-analysis was insufficient for the purposes of this review. Doggrell, S. A. Alpha-lipoic acid, an anti-obesity agent? Expert.Opin.Investig.Drugs 2004;13(12):1641-1643. View abstract.

Lop Koh, J. M., Lee, Y. S., Byun, C. H., Chang, E. J., Kim, H., Kim, Y. H., Kim, H. H., and Kim, G. S. Alpha-lipoic acid suppresses osteoclastogenesis despite increasing the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in human bone marrow stromal cells. J Endocrinol. 2005;185(3):401-413. View abstract. Alpha lipoic acid supplementation seems to help improve insulin sensitivity and might also offer protection against metabolic syndrome — a term given to a cluster of conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight. Some evidence also shows that it can help lower blood sugar levels. Because ALA isn’t an official essential nutrient, there hasn’t been an established daily recommendation needed to prevent a deficiency.Saboori S, Falahi E, Eslampour E, Zeinali Khosroshahi M, Yousefi Rad E. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on C-reactive protein level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 201;28(8):779-786. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2018.04.003 Kravchuk, IuA, Mekhtiev, S. N., Uspenskii, IuP, Grinevich, V. B., and Koblov, S. V. [Device laboratory and postmortem parallels in alcoholic hepatitis during combined therapy using thioctic (alpha-lipoic) acid]. Klin.Med (Mosk) 2004;82(6):55-57. View abstract. For most people, it’s best to get this compound from a healthy diet, especially foods like broccoli, spinach, other greens, beets, carrots, meat and organ meats. The best way to get any nutrients is ideally through real food sources, since this is how your body knows how to absorb and use various chemicals best. ALA is found in many different plant and animal sources, since it’s bound to protein molecules (especially lysine).

Alpha-lipoic acid or ALA is a naturally occurring compound that's made in the body. It serves vital functions at the cellular level, such as energy production. As long as you're healthy, the body can produce all the ALA it needs for these purposes. Despite that fact, there has been a lot of recent interest in using ALA supplements. Advocates of ALA make claims that range from beneficial effects for treating conditions such as diabetes and HIV to enhancing weight loss. Borcea, V., Nourooz-Zadeh, J., Wolff, S. P., Klevesath, M., Hofmann, M., Urich, H., Wahl, P., Ziegler, R., Tritschler, H., Halliwell, B., and Nawroth, P. P. alpha-Lipoic acid decreases oxidative stress even in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control and albuminuria. Free Radic.Biol.Med. 1999;22(11-12):1495-1500. View abstract.Estrada, D. E., Ewart, H. S., Tsakiridis, T., Volchuk, A., Ramlal, T., Tritschler, H., and Klip, A. Stimulation of glucose uptake by the natural coenzyme alpha-lipoic acid/thioctic acid: participation of elements of the insulin signaling pathway. Diabetes 1996;45(12):1798-1804. View abstract.