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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Compound

ALA (R-isomer)

Natural enantiomer of α-lipoic acid with better bioavailability.

Blood Sugar ManagementHealthy AgingBrain & Cognitive

Overview

Natural enantiomer of α-lipoic acid with better bioavailability.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Alpha-Lipoic Acid

      Different chemical forms of Alpha-Lipoic Acid behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Parent
      Alpha-Lipoic Acid

      Mitochondrial antioxidant studied for diabetic neuropathy and insulin sensitivity.

      Mechanism of action

      Mitochondrial cofactor; recycles vitamin C/E and glutathione.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Improves diabetic neuropathy symptoms

        Strong evidence

        Potential side effects

        Common
        • · GI upset
        Rare
        • · Hypoglycemia
        Serious
        • · Insulin autoimmune syndrome (rare)

        Drug interactions

        No notable interactions reported.

        Supplement interactions

        Pairs well with

        None listed.

        Avoid combining with

        No specific avoidances listed.

        Dosing & bioavailability

        Typical dose
        300–600 mg R-ALA
        With food?
        Empty stomach

        Where to buy

        Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

        Compound
        ALA (R-isomer)
        Amazon
        Wide selection · fast shipping
        Compound
        ALA (R-isomer)
        iHerb
        Global delivery · curated brands
        Compound
        ALA (R-isomer)
        Thorne
        Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

        Scientific evidence (8)

        RCTDiabetes Care · 2006

        ALA in diabetic neuropathy (SYDNEY 2)

        Ziegler D, et al.

        5-week DB-RCT in 181 T2DM patients.

        Key findings

        600 mg/day reduced total symptom score vs placebo.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — Improves diabetic neuropathy symptoms

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) Improves diabetic neuropathy symptoms" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "Improves diabetic neuropathy symptoms". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — randomized controlled trial

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — meta-analysis

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — pharmacokinetics

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — safety adverse events

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: ALA (R-isomer) — dose response

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "ALA (R-isomer) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching ALA (R-isomer) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

        Google Scholar: ALA (R-isomer) — clinical evidence

        Live Scholar search

        Cross-database citation index for ALA (R-isomer) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

        Key findings

        Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

        Open study
        Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.