Alpha-lipoic acid (mitochondrial antioxidant)

nad mitochondrialinflammation redox

Sold as a consumer product in 1 of 9 markets tracked; in clinical trials in 2.

Evidence so far is from 1 human trial with no pre-planned main endpoint and laboratory and animal studies.

In people: 1 trial (135 people, 26 weeks). Doses studied: 600 mg/day.

Evidence map

each mark is a study; size shows participants; hover, tap or focus for details

main endpoints improvedno effectworsenedmixedobservationalanother intervention, contextsize not reported

Higher rows are closer to a person taking this. A case that rests only on the lower rows rests on animals or cells.

What each study measured

outlined square: the main (primary) endpoint

Harms reported

human studies

Where it is available

by regulator; select a market for its source

If you are tracking this yourself

measures the human studies used, by how repeatable they are

Repeatability is whether the same person measured twice gets the same number. It is not statistical significance. It informs study or protocol design only, never advice for a person.

What would change this picture

each study's own statement

Trials under way

Every study (17)

T6 Mendoza-Núñez 2019 The Effect of 600 mg Alpha-lipoic Acid Supplementation on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and RAGE in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus doi:10.1155/2019/3276958
T3 Lee 2004 The impact of alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, and caloric restriction on life span and gene expression patterns in mice doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.015
T3 Farr 2012 Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Memory, Oxidation, and Lifespan in SAMP8 Mice doi:10.3233/JAD-2012-120130
T3 Badran 2019 Alpha Lipoic Acid Improves Endothelial Function and Oxidative Stress in Mice Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia doi:10.1155/2019/4093018
T3 Nameni 2026 Impact of HIIT and Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Liver Enzyme Levels and AMPK/GLUT4 Expression in Obese Aged Rats doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9862225/v1
T3 Savitha 2005 Efficacy of levo carnitine and alpha lipoic acid in ameliorating the decline in mitochondrial enzymes during aging doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2005.04.005
T3 Cakatay 2005a Plasma protein oxidation in aging rats after alpha-lipoic acid administration doi:10.1007/s10522-005-3462-x
T3 Mahmoud 2015 Ginger and alpha lipoic acid ameliorate age-related ultrastructural changes in rat liver doi:10.3109/10520295.2015.1076578
T3 Cakatay 2005b Prooxidant activities of alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative protein damage in the aging rat heart muscle doi:10.1016/j.archger.2004.09.001
T3 Poon 2005 Proteomic analysis of specific brain proteins in aged SAMP8 mice treated with alpha-lipoic acid: implications for aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2004.07.008
T3 de Bengy 2022 Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplementation Restores Early Age-Related Sensory and Endothelial Dysfunction in the Skin doi:10.3390/biomedicines10112887
T3 Liu 2017 R-lipoic acid overdosing affects platelet life span via ROS mediated autophagy doi:10.1080/09537104.2017.1356450
T1 Zhang 2025 Lipoic acid functions in Paneth cells to prevent human intestinal stem cell aging doi:10.1038/s41467-025-61070-z
TX Viana 2022 Alpha-Lipoic Acid as an Antioxidant Strategy for Managing Neuropathic Pain doi:10.3390/antiox11122420
TX Skibska 2015 The Protective Effect of Lipoic Acid on Selected Cardiovascular Diseases Caused by Age-Related Oxidative Stress doi:10.1155/2015/313021
TX Molz 2017 Potential Therapeutic Effects of Lipoic Acid on Memory Deficits Related to Aging and Neurodegeneration doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00849
TX dos Santos 2019 Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Beneficial or Harmful in Alzheimer’s Disease? doi:10.1155/2019/8409329