ConsumerLab.com uses JavaScript to provide the best possible experience for our content, but your browser has it disabled. Learn how to enable it here.

About ConsumerLab.com


Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

Summary

  • What is alpha-lipoic acid? 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 alpha-lipoic acid 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 of alpha-lipoic acid is best? 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 alpha-lipoic acid should I 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 for alpha-lipoic acid? Many products passed our tests of quality (See What CL Found). Among Approved products, ConsumerLab.com identified several which represented its Top Picks.
  • Safety and side effects of alpha-lipoic acid: 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).

Make sure you're choosing the best alpha-lipoic acid supplements approved in our tests!

See the Full Review as a Member

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

Alpha-lipoic acid supplements compared in this review

View Larger Image 5390_small_5390_small_AlphaBetic-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

alpha betic Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5391_small_5391_small_Bronson-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Bronson Laboratories Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5392_small_5392_small_CountryLife-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Country Life R-Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5601_small_5601_small_GNC-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

GNC Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg

View Larger Image 5393_small_5393_small_JarrowFormulas-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Jarrow Formulas Alpha Lipoic Sustain 300 with Biotin

View Larger Image 5394_small_5394_small_Natrol-AplhaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Natrol Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg

Nature's Bounty Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5395_small_5395_small_NaturesSunshine-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Nature's Sunshine Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5396_small_5396_small_NOW-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

NOW Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5397_small_5397_small_OL-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Olympian Labs Incorporated Alpha Lipoic Acid Naturopathic 400 mg

View Larger Image 5398_small_5398_small_OrthoMolecularProducts-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Ortho Molecular Products Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5399_small_5399_small_PureEncapsulations-AlphaLipoic-Small-2021.jpg

Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra

Puritan's Pride Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 mg

View Larger Image 5400_small_5400_small_RadiancePlatnum-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Radiance Platinum [CVS] Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5401_small_5401_small_Solgar-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Solgar Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg (200 mg per vegetarian capsule

View Larger Image 5402_small_5402_small_SpringValley-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Spring Valley [Walmart] Alpha Lipoic Acid

Sundown Naturals Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5757_small_5757_small_Twinlab-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

TwinLab Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg per capsule

View Larger Image 5403_small_5403_small_Vitacost-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Vitacost Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5404_small_5404_small_VitaminWorld-AlphaLipoicAcid-Bottle-Small-2021.jpg

Vitamin World Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg

View Larger Image 5405_small_5405_small_VitaminWorld-AlphaLipoicAcid-Small-2021.jpg

Vitamin World Extra Strength Alpha Lipoic Acid

View Larger Image 5406_small_5406_small_VitaminWorld-AlphaLipoicAcid-TripleStrength-Small-2021.jpg

Vitamin World Triple Strength Alpha Lipoic Acid

You must be a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com's recommendations and quality ratings. You'll get results for 19 alpha-lipoic acid supplements -- 10 selected by ConsumerLab.com and nine which passed testing in our voluntary Quality Certification Program, as well as information about three supplements similar to one that passed testing. 


In this comprehensive review, you'll discover: 
  • The best quality alpha-lipoic acid supplements and which passed or failed testing
  • Which alpha-lipoic acid supplements are the best value and are CL's Top Picks  
  • What alpha-lipoic acid can and cannot do for your health
  • How R-alpha-lipoic acid differs from mixed isomer alpha-lipoic acid
  • The dose of alpha-lipoic acid for specific uses   
  • Cautions when using alpha-lipoic acid, including side-effects, drug interactions, and interference with thyroid function, treatment, and tests (such as T3 and TSH)  

Join to unlock the full report and get full access to over 1,400 reviews

See the Full Review as a Member

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

Close
Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.