← All supplements

Alpha-lipoic acid

Supplement antioxidant general nutritionenergy
Aka: ALA, R-lipoic acid, thioctic acid
Brands seen in Singapore: California Gold Nutrition, NOW Foods, Doctor's Best, Life Extension, Best Naturals
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Unclear — the pooled trials are cardiometabolic, not energy
Take with
Sold in SG as 600 mg ala or as stabilised r-lipoic acid
Studied for
The studied window: 800 mg a day or less, 12 weeks or less
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Large human base — 63 RCTS pooled to may 2025
  • Inflammation markers fell in 20 trials, 947 people
  • 600 mg a day is the dose the SG shelf actually sells
Cons
  • Effects were below clinically important thresholds
  • No effect on LDL, HDL or blood pressure in 63 RCTS
  • Case reports tie it to insulin autoimmune hypoglycaemia
Sources
  1. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases 2026; PMID 41077538) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “A comprehensive search of several databases identified 63 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until May 2025 … no substantial effect of ALA was identified on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol”
  2. Efficacy and safety of oral alpha-lipoic acid supplementation for type 2 diabetes management: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized trials (Endocrine Connections 2022; PMC9578061) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “We included 16 trials with 1035 patients … Levels of FPG and LDL-C decreased up to 600 mg/day ALA intake … The point estimates were below minimal clinically important difference thresholds for all outcomes”
  3. The effects of alpha lipoic acid supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs (Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2023; PMC10628535) — cited here only for the dose and duration window studied · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “A total of 11 RCTs with the participation of 674 patients were included … at the dosages of <800 mg/day, when administered for ≤12 weeks”
  4. An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs on the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers (Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2023; PMID 33827267) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Twenty eligible studies with a total sample size of 947 participants were included … ALA supplementation significantly reduced CRP (WMD: -0.69 mg/L) … IL-6 … and TNF-α concentrations”
  5. Hypoglycaemia in a non-diabetic patient due to alpha-lipoic acid-induced insulin autoimmune syndrome with HLA-DRB1*04:03:01G (BMJ Case Reports 2026; PMID 42493219) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “IAS is increasingly recognised worldwide, particularly in association with sulfhydryl-containing medications such as alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) … Given the widespread over-the-counter availability of ALA-containing supplements, careful medication history … are essential”
  6. A Case of Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia in the Elderly: Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome (Cureus 2026; PMC13261612) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS), also known as Hirata syndrome, is a rare cause of spontaneous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, most commonly reported in Asian populations”
  7. HSA Singapore - Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in HS and TM, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. No. 001 (October 2025), clause 1.3 + Annexes A and B · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list”
  8. iHerb Singapore — Alpha Lipoic Acid category (Antioxidants), default order · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “1 - 48 of 124 results … California Gold Nutrition, Alpha Lipoic Acid, 600 mg … NOW Foods … Doctor's Best, Alpha-Lipoic Acid 600 … Life Extension, Super R-Lipoic Acid … Best Naturals, Alpha Lipoic Acid”
  9. iHerb Singapore — Alpha Lipoic Acid category, forms sold alongside plain ALA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “California Gold Nutrition, Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid with Bio-Enhanced® Na-RALA and Biotin … Life Extension, Super R-Lipoic Acid … California Gold Nutrition, Benfotiamine + Alpha Lipoic Acid”
Report a correction View as JSON

Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.