Sytrinol [Discontinued] by NOW

POSSIBLY EFFECTIVE

• Diabetic neuropathy. Oral or intravenous alpha-lipoic acid 600-1800 mg daily seems to improve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Its benefits in patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy are unclear. Details: Several clinical studies show that taking alpha-lipoic acid, either alone or in combination with gamma-lipoic acid, superoxide dismutase, or vitamin B12, seems to improve neuropathic sensory symptoms such as burning, pain, numbness, and prickling of the feet and legs, as well as objective measures such as ratings of neurological deficit and disability. Symptom improvement seems to occur within 3 to 5 weeks of oral or intravenous dosing (3540,3541,3557,3868,10148,12106,20473,20475,20478,20480)(20481,20484,20488,90447,103333,111429,111703). A meta-analysis of 10 clinical studies in adults with diabetic polyneuropathy shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600-1800 mg daily for 3 weeks to 2 years reduces the incidence, severity, and frequency of sensory symptoms and improves measures of impairment and neurological disability but does not improve vibration perception threshold or measures of nerve conduction when compared with placebo (111703). However, another meta-analysis of 6 studies in patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes, that includes some of the same studies, shows that giving alpha-lipoic acid 600-1800 mg daily orally or intravenously for 3-8 weeks does not improve neuropathic pain when compared with placebo (112937). Orally, alpha-lipoic acid 600-1800 mg daily in one to three divided doses has been used (3540,3541,3868,20475,20478,103333,111429). A specific combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg and superoxide dismutase 140 IU (ALA600 SOD, Alfa Wassermann) has also been used (20488). Intravenously, alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg and 1200 mg daily have been used (3540,3541,3557,10148,20480,20481,20484). In one study, a specific product (Thiotacid, Eva Pharma) was used (103333). However, some preliminary clinical research shows that lower doses of alpha-lipoic acid are ineffective for improving nerve conduction velocity or subjective complaints of neuropathy (3869,20479,20482,20486,20487). Also, although there is some preliminary evidence that taking alpha-lipoic acid improves nerve function indices, such as Valsalva maneuver, Ewing's tests, or electrocardiogram measurements in patients with a specific type of diabetic neuropathy called cardiac autonomic neuropathy, taking alpha-lipoic acid orally does not improve clinical symptoms (3542,20483,20485,96223,107892).
• Hyperlipidemia. Oral alpha-lipoic acid seems to reduce levels of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in certain populations. However, it is unclear whether alpha-lipoic acid is clinically beneficial in patients with hyperlipidemia. Details: A meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300-1200 mg daily for up to 16 weeks decreases total cholesterol by 10 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol by 9 mg/dL, but does not seem to improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglycerides, when compared with placebo (100709). In addition, in a large group of generally healthy adults, taking alpha-lipoic acid 800-1200 mg for 4 years reduces levels of total and LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides, when compared with baseline. The 1200 mg daily dose was more effective than the 400 mg daily dose (104650). A meta-analysis of clinical research in various patient populations shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid 300-1200 mg daily for 2-16 weeks decreases levels of total cholesterol by 11 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol by 11 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 31 md/dL when compared with placebo. It is unclear whether dose or treatment duration affect these outcomes (107885). These findings are limited by the high heterogeneity of the included studies and patient populations. One clinical study in adults with gestational diabetes, most of whom had elevated cholesterol levels at baseline, shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid (Puritan's Pride) 100 mg daily for 8 weeks reduces triglycerides, but does not improve levels of total, HDL, or LDL cholesterol, when compared with placebo (107890). The validity of this study is limited due to short duration of treatment. While many patients in these studies had elevated lipid levels at baseline, none of the studies specifically evaluated patients with hyperlipidemia. Thus, the benefits of alpha-lipoic acid in these patients is unclear.
• Obesity. Most research shows that oral alpha-lipoic acid seems to improve weight loss by a small amount. Details: While individual clinical studies show mixed results (21674,97630,100710,103327,103334), meta-analyses of clinical research show that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300-1800 mg daily for 2-48 weeks can modestly reduce body weight by 0.7-2.3 kg and body mass index (BMI) by up to 0.5 kg/m2 when compared with placebo in overweight individuals or patients with obesity. The magnitude of these improvements are not dependent on the dose or duration of treatment (96231,96232,103332,111294). While these improvements are statistically significant, they may not be clinically meaningful. In addition, a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in adults with obesity shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300-600 mg orally daily for 8-10 weeks improves some markers of insulin resistance, but not blood pressure or cholesterol levels (111294). Taking alpha-lipoic acid might also reduce body weight in overweight children or children with obesity. In adolescents aged 10-17 years, clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg twice daily for 3 months reduces body weight by 3.2 kg when compared with placebo. However, there was no effect on blood lipids or fasting blood glucose (103330). Also, a small clinical study in children 8-16 years of age shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Tiobec 800, Laborest) 800 mg daily for 12 weeks does not improve body weight, BMI, blood pressure, blood lipids, glycemic control, insulin resistance, or endothelial function when compared with placebo (100708). However, this study may have been inadequately powered to detect a difference in many of these outcomes.

POSSIBLY INEFFECTIVE

• Alcohol-related liver disease. Oral alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to improve liver function in patients with alcohol-related liver disease. Details: Taking alpha-lipoic acid orally 300 mg daily for up to 6 months does not appear to improve liver function or reduce liver damage when compared with placebo in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (3880,21678).
• Altitude sickness. Oral alpha-lipoic acid, in combination with vitamins C and E, does not seem to be beneficial for altitude sickness prevention or treatment. Details: Clinical research in healthy volunteers ascending to 5200 meters shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg in combination with vitamin C 1 gram and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 400 IU in four divided doses daily, beginning on the day of travel to high altitude and continuing for 2 weeks thereafter, does not prevent the occurrence nor decrease the severity of altitude sickness when compared with placebo (20499).
• Contrast induced nephropathy. Oral alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to prevent nephropathy after undergoing coronary angiography. Details: In diabetic patients at low risk for contrast induced nephropathy, alpha-lipoic acid (Thioactacid 600 mg RH, MEDA Manufacturing GmbH) 600 mg taken 30 minutes prior to and 24 and 48 hours after undergoing coronary angiography, with or without standard hydration therapy, does not reduce the risk of contrast induced nephropathy when compared with standard hydration therapy (90442). In addition, treatment with alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally every 8 hours beginning the afternoon prior to angiography and continuing for 2 days does not attenuate the maximum increase in serum creatinine or reduce the incidence of contrast induced nephropathy in most patients when compared with standard hydration therapy alone (90446).
• Diabetes. Oral or intravenous alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to be beneficial for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Details: Although some conflicting findings from individual studies exist, the overall evidence does not support the use of oral or intravenous alpha-lipoic acid for improving glycemic control or insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes (3545,3874,3875,3876,20490,20493,20494,20495,20496,90443)(90445,110118,111305). A meta-analysis of 16 small clinical studies in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 200-1200 mg daily for up to 52 weeks leads to slight improvements in glycemic control and body weight, but these improvements are not clinically significant. When compared with placebo, alpha-lipoic acid reduced fasting blood glucose by 6 mg/dL, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.17%, body weight by 0.7 kg, and body mass index (BMI) by 1.1 kg/m2. While triglyceride levels were reduced by 19 mg/dL, improvements in other lipids levels and blood pressure were lacking (110118). A specific alpha-lipoic acid product administered orally or intravenously in some of these studies was Thioctacid (Asta Medica) (3874,3875,3876). Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in patients with gestational diabetes or type 1 diabetes. A small clinical study in adults with gestational diabetes shows the taking alpha-lipoic acid (Puritan's Pride) 100 mg daily for 8 weeks improves fasting blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity but does not affect HbA1C when compared with placebo (107890). The validity of this study is limited due to its short duration, which was likely inadequate to detect a change in HbA1c. Also, one small clinical study in adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes who show signs of early stage diabetic cardiomyopathy shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg twice daily for 4 months, in combination with insulin therapy, improves left ventricular systolic and diastolic function (90443).
• Diabetic retinopathy. Oral alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to prevent macular edema in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Details: Some research shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 24 months does not improve the incidence of clinically significant macular edema when compared with placebo in patients with mild to moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (20491).
• HIV/AIDS-related dementia. Oral alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to improve cognitive impairment related to this condition. Details: Clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily, alone or along with selegiline (Deprenyl), for 10 weeks may worsen HIV-associated cognitive impairment and does not affect mood or functional status when compared with placebo in patients with confirmed HIV infection and evidence of cognitive impairment (1556).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Age-related cognitive decline. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for age-related cognitive decline. Details: Preliminary clinical research in elderly adults shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally daily for 12 weeks does not improve cognitive function scores when compared with baseline (111303). The validity of this study is limited by the lack of a comparator group.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for AMD. Details: A small clinical trial shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Pure Encapsulations) 1200 mg daily for 18 months does not improve visual acuity or reduce the rate of atrophy when compared with placebo in patients with advanced AMD (103335). It is unclear if alpha-lipoic acid would be beneficial in patients with less severe symptoms of AMD.
• Age-related testosterone deficiency. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A very small clinical study in males with overweight or obesity, mild erectile dysfunction, and normal to low androgen levels shows that taking a combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 800 mg, myo-inositol, folic acid, and apple (Sinopol Forte, Laborest) increases testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and measures of erectile dysfunction but not follicle-stimulating hormone or sperm parameters when compared to baseline (111674). The validity of these findings is limited by the small sample size and lack of a comparator group, and it is unclear if these effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Aging skin. Topical alpha-lipoic acid may be beneficial for aging skin. Details: A small clinical study shows that applying a cream containing alpha-lipoic acid 5% to the face twice daily for 12 weeks reduces the fine lines and roughness associated with aging of facial skin when compared with a control cream (12021).
• Alzheimer disease. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for this condition. Details: Some preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg once daily in combination with standard cholinesterase inhibitors may slow cognitive decline when compared with cholinesterase inhibitors alone in some patients with Alzheimer disease (20500,90437). However, higher-quality clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600-900 mg daily for up to 2 years, in combination with vitamin C and vitamin E, does not affect cognitive function when compared with placebo in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease (19206,20501).
• Amanita mushroom poisoning. Evidence on the use of intravenous alpha-lipoic acid for amanita mushroom poisoning is limited to anecdotal reports. Details: Intravenous alpha-lipoic acid has been used in combination with other treatments for poisoning from amanita mushroom ingestion. Its use is controversial. Reports are anecdotal, and experimental evidence does not support its effectiveness. Some researchers recommend against its use (105,1548,1549,3871,3879).
• Anthracycline cardiotoxicity. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is effective for the prevention of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Details: A small clinical study in patients with breast cancer receiving doxorubicin shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 6 months does not improve ejection fraction but does decrease levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a marker of ventricular hypertrophy, when compared with placebo (110112).
• Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is effective for the prevention or treatment of antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. Details: A very small, open-label study in patients with schizophrenia shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily along with conventional antipsychotic therapy for 12 weeks reduces prolactin levels by 51% when compared to baseline (110116). The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a control group.
• Antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects. Small clinical studies suggest that oral alpha-lipoic acid does not seem to improve antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects in patients with schizophrenia. Details: A very small, open-label study in patients with schizophrenia shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily along with conventional antipsychotic therapy for 12 weeks reduces fasting blood glucose levels by around 17 mg/dL but actually increases glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.14% when compared to baseline. No improvements in body weight or lipid levels were reported (110116). Another small clinical study in patients with schizophrenia stabilized on antipsychotic therapy for at least 1 year shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg daily for 16 weeks does not improve body mass index (BMI) when compared with placebo (110115).
• Aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small clinical study in patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer and aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia shows that taking a specific combination product (Opera, Gamfarma Srl) containing alpha-lipoic acid 240 mg, Boswellia serrata 40 mg, methylsulfonylmethane 200 mg, and bromelain 20 mg once daily for 6 months reduces arthralgia intensity when compared to baseline, with around 22% of patients having complete symptom resolution at the end of the study (109570). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group.
• Atrial fibrillation. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for atrial fibrillation. Details: Clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 12 months does not reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation when compared with placebo in patients who underwent a catheter ablation procedure. However, there was a decrease in the need for antiarrhythmic drugs in patients receiving alpha-lipoic acid (97628).
• Back pain. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: An observational study in adults with chronic lower back pain and sciatica suggests that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 800 mg, palmitoylethanolamide 600 mg, and myrrh 200 mg daily for 30 days, along with periradicular infiltrations of oxygen-ozone, is associated with resolution of pain in 17% more patients when compared with periradicular steroid infiltrations at 60 days (111308). However, it is unclear if this effect is due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Beta-thalassemia. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for reducing iron accumulation in beta-thalassemia major. Details: A small, crossover study in patients with beta-thalassemia major who are receiving iron chelation therapy shows that adding oral alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg before breakfast or dinner for 8 weeks reduces levels of serum ferritin when compared with placebo (107888). Serum ferritin was reduced by 104 ng/mL and 38 ng/mL in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively. The validity of this finding is limited due to the small, exploratory nature of the study.
• Bipolar disorder. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Clinical research shows that taking acetyl-L-carnitine 1000 mg plus alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg up to three times daily for 12 weeks does not improve depression when compared with placebo in patients with type I or type II bipolar disorder (90441).
• Burning mouth syndrome. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for burning mouth syndrome. Details: A meta-analysis of nine small, low-quality clinical trials in patients with burning mouth syndrome shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 400-800 mg daily for up to 2 months does not reduce pain intensity when compared with placebo or active controls such as multivitamins, Biotene mouth rinse, capsaicin, laser therapy, clonazepam, or pregabalin. However, in an analysis of three placebo-controlled studies, alpha-lipoic acid increased the likelihood of any burning mouth syndrome-related symptom improvement by 92% when compared with placebo (110111). Individual studies, most of which were included in the analysis, show conflicting results overall (20474,21661,21662,21663,21664,21665,21666,111427). One small clinical trial shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily improves symptoms of burning mouth syndrome in patients who had never previously been treated with anxiolytics or antidepressants, but not in those who had received these prior treatments (21668). This suggests that alpha-lipoic acid may improve symptoms of burning mouth syndrome resulting from stress, but not from depression or drug-induced hyposalivation.
• Cancer. Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for preventing or treating cancer, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for preventing or treating CVD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for carpal tunnel syndrome, either before or after surgery. Details: In patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 60 days reduces pain by a moderate amount when compared with not taking alpha-lipoic acid, but with no effect on functionality (103328). In patients with neuropathic pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome, giving alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg intravenously daily for 30 days, then 600 mg orally daily for 60 days, decreases pain on a visual analog scale, and improves functionality when compared with oral alpha-lipoic acid alone, or no treatment (112938). Alpha-lipoic acid has also been studied in combination with other ingredients. One study shows that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg and gamma-linolenic acid 360 mg for 90 days improves functional scores and subjective symptom scores when compared to baseline (21653). The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a comparator group. Another clinical study in adults with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome shows that taking a combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, phosphatidylserine, turmeric, and vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B6, and B12 twice daily for 60 days reduces symptom severity and pain but does not improve measures of hand and wrist function when compared with control (111702). The validity of these effects is limited by a lack of blinding. The study may also be inadequately powered to detect a difference between groups. Additionally, it is unclear if the effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in patients who have undergone carpal tunnel release surgery. Taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 40 days starting immediately after surgery does not improve the rate of nerve recovery when compared with placebo, although it seems to reduce the occurrence of post-operative pillar pain, which is a common complication of carpal tunnel release surgery (96233).
• Cataracts. Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for cataracts, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Cervical dysplasia. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with cervical dysplasia. Details: A small clinical study in patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 3 months reduces the proportion of patients with intraepithelial neoplasia by 95% when compared with placebo (110113).
• Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of oral alpha-lipoic acid for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Details: One clinical study shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg three times daily for 24 weeks during treatment with cisplatin or oxaliplatin does not affect the symptoms or severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy when compared with placebo (90439). However, another small clinical study in patients with breast cancer receiving paclitaxel shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 6 months reduces the severity of peripheral neuropathy when compared with placebo (110112). The reason for this disparate finding is unclear, but it may be due to differences in chemotherapy regimens. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in combination with other ingredients. A small clinical study shows that taking a specific product (Opera, Gamfarma s.r.l.) containing alpha-lipoic acid 240 mg, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 200 mg, Boswellia serrata 40 mg, and bromelain 20 mg daily for 12 weeks reduces overall pain when compared to baseline in adults with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (96449). The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group. Other preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally once daily and ipidacrine 20 mg orally three times daily throughout 6 paclitaxel-based chemotherapy cycles improves sensory nerve action potential parameters when compared with control (111292). It is unclear if these effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, the other ingredients, or the combination.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for CFS, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for CKD. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with stage 2 or 3 CKD related to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 1.6 grams daily for 6 months has modest benefits on biochemical markers and cognitive tests when compared to control. Taking alpha-lipoic acid reduces serum glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and uric acid levels, and improves insulin resistance and flow-mediated dilation and cognitive test results. However, there was no effect on intima media thickness or the ankle brachial index (101867).
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Clinical research in patients undergoing elective CABG surgery shows that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg, coenzyme Q10 100 mg, magnesium orotate 400 mg, and omega-3 fatty acids 300 mg three times daily, with selenium 200 mcg once daily, for up to 2 months prior and 1 month after surgery, decreases plasma troponin levels and reduces the average postoperative hospital stay by 1.2 days when compared with placebo (21651). It is unclear if this effect is due to alpha-lipoic acid, the other ingredients, or the combination.
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with persistent loss of the sense of smell after COVID-19 infection. Details: In adults with sense of smell loss persisting for more than 3 months after COVID-19 infection, adding alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg twice daily orally for 12 weeks to olfactory training reduces the incidence of anosmia, and improves the olfactory threshold, the sense of smell measured on a visual analog scale, and the smell identification score by a similar amount to placebo (112935).
• Diabetic nephropathy. When used in combination with certain conventional medications, intravenous or oral alpha-lipoic acid may improve some measures of albuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that intravenous alpha-lipoic acid (YantaiZhichu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 450 mg plus intravenous alprostadil 20 mcg once daily for 14 days reduces urinary albumin excretion rate by 23% and cystatin C levels by 19% when compared with alprostadil alone (96221). Patients treated with alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg intravenously plus valsartan 80 mg orally once daily for 14 days showed a 25% lower urinary albumin excretion rate and a 27% and 31% lower serum level of beta2-microglobulin and cystatin C, respectively, when compared with patients treated with valsartan alone (101866). A meta-analysis of clinical research in adults with diabetic nephropathy shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg, 450 mg, or 600 mg daily in combination with oral valsartan 80 mg daily for 14 days reduces urinary albumin excretion rate, as well as levels of urinary albumin and serum beta 2-microglobulin, when compared with either valsartan or alpha-lipoic acid alone (107891). These findings are limited by the high heterogeneity of the included studies and the presence of potential publication bias. Additionally, the long-term benefits of alpha-lipoic acid are unclear. Another meta-analysis of clinical research in patients with diabetes shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily in conjunction with other medications (e.g. antihypertensives, vitamin B6) for 3-18 months reduces levels of urine albumin, but does not improve urinary albumin excretion rate, when compared with placebo. Notably, alpha-lipoic acid alone did not affect outcomes (107886). The validity of these findings is limited by the high heterogeneity of the included studies; additionally, the quality of evidence was considered low to moderate.
• Dry eye. It is unclear if topical alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with dry eye. Details: A small clinical study in patients with diabetes and dry eye symptoms shows that application of an eye drop containing alpha-lipoic acid 0.1% and hydroxy-propyl-methylcellulose (HPMC) 0.3% three times daily for 2 months does not improve subjective or objective measures of dry eye symptoms when compared with HPMC alone (110119).
• Dysmenorrhea. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for dysmenorrhea. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally daily, with or without mefenamic acid 250 mg daily, for 5 days starting before menstruation reduces pain associated with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea by approximately 24% and 44%, respectively, when compared to baseline (101871). The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a comparator group.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED). It is unclear if oral or intravenous alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for ED. Details: Preliminary clinical research in males with diabetes and ED shows that intravenous alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg with alprostadil 10 mcg once daily for 14 days improves the quality and frequency of erection in 95% of patients, compared with only 81% of those taking tadalafil 5 mg orally daily (96224). It is not clear if this improvement is due to alpha-lipoic acid, alprostadil, or the combination. Another very small study in males with mild ED, overweight or obesity, and normal to low androgen levels shows that taking a combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 800 mg, myo-inositol, folic acid, and apple (Sinopol Forte, Laborest) improves measures of erectile dysfunction when compared to baseline (111674). The validity of these finding is limited by the small sample size and the lack of a comparator group, and it is unclear if these effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if intravenous alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for fibromyalgia. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (SiSU Vita Health) 600-1800 mg daily for 4 weeks does not reduce pain intensity when compared with placebo in patients with fibromyalgia (104655). Alpha lipoic acid has also been studied as a combination therapy for fibromyalgia. Preliminary clinical research in adults with fibromyalgia shows that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid and pregabalin for 6 weeks does not improve pain or depression scores when compared with either product alone (111428). However, the study may have been inadequately powered to detect a difference between groups.
• Glaucoma. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with open-angle glaucoma shows that taking a combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg, omega-3 fatty acids 2240 mg, vitamin C 180 mg, vitamin E 27.9 mg, lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg, zinc 15 mg, copper 1 mg, and taurine 150 mg (NuaDHA Vision, Nua Biological) orally daily for 6 months does not improve intraocular pressure when compared with baseline (111310).
• Heart failure. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with heart failure participating in a handgrip exercise shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin C reduces mean arterial pressure by about 6 mmHg and reduces vascular resistance by about 12% when compared with placebo (19219). The first dose consisted of vitamin E 200 IU, vitamin C 500 mg, and alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg. The subsequent dose consisted of vitamin E 400 IU, vitamin C 500 mg, and alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg (19219). It is unclear if these effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Hemorrhoids. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for hemorrhoids. Details: A preliminary open-label clinical trial shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 200 mg daily for 12 weeks decreases anal pain while sitting, pain at defecation, itching, and bleeding when compared with no treatment in patients with second- and third-degree hemorrhoids (100707). The validity of these results is limited by a lack of blinding and placebo control.
• Herniated disc. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small observational study in adults with acute lumbosacral radiculopathy secondary to lumbar disc herniation shows that taking a combination supplement containing alpha-lipoic acid 404 mg, myrrh, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) (Tiobec Dol, Uriach Italy Srl) twice daily for 4 weeks, along with steroids and as needed opioids, reduces pain and disability and improves physical but not mental health as it pertains to quality of life when compared with steroids and as needed opioids alone (111711). However, it is unclear if these effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• HIV/AIDS. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for patients with HIV/AIDS who are unresponsive to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Details: A small clinical study in patients who were unresponsive to HAART shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Alpha Lipoic Sustain 300, Jarrow Formulas) 300 mg three times daily for 6 months improves lymphocyte proliferation and whole blood glutathione levels when compared with placebo. However, there was no change in HIV RNA levels or CD4 count (21655).
• Hypertension. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for hypertension. Details: Clinical research in a small number of patients with mild (stage I) hypertension shows that adding alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily to quinapril 40 mg daily for 8 weeks does not significantly decrease blood pressure when compared with quinapril alone (21656). A meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials shows that alpha-lipoic acid lowers systolic blood pressure by a mean of about 5 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure by a mean of about 3 mmHg, but there is significant heterogeneity between the studies. The small decrease in blood pressure is also only seen with doses of alpha-lipoic acid below 800 mg daily when given for 12 weeks or less (112934).
• Hypertriglyceridemia. Clinical studies suggest that oral alpha-lipoic acid does not reduce triglyceride levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, however it might be beneficial in certain populations. Details: In overweight adults with elevated triglycerides, taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 24 weeks does not reduce triglyceride levels when compared with placebo (103327). In addition, a meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials in patients with or without hypertriglyceridemia at baseline shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300-1200 mg daily for up to 16 weeks does not improve triglyceride levels when compared with placebo (100709). However, one clinical study in adults with gestational diabetes, most of whom had elevated triglyceride levels at baseline, shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Puritan's Pride) 100 mg daily for 8 weeks reduces triglyceride levels by 30 mg/dL, compared with an increase of 5 mg/dL in those taking placebo, a difference that was statistically significant (107890). The validity of this study is limited due to short duration of treatment.
• Impaired glucose tolerance (prediabetes). It is unclear if oral or intravenous alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for prediabetes. Details: A small clinical study in patients with prediabetes shows that intravenous alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 2 weeks decreases postprandial plasma glucose, steady state plasma insulin, cholesterol, and fatty acid levels and increases insulin sensitivity when compared with placebo (21657). In a large group of generally healthy adults, taking alpha-lipoic acid 800-1200 mg for 4 years reduces levels of fasting plasma glucose when compared with baseline. The 1200 mg daily dose was more effective than the 400 mg daily dose (104650). While some patients in this study had prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose at baseline, the study did not specifically evaluate patients with prediabetes.
• Infertility. Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid to increase the chance of pregnancy, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for infertility.
• Interstitial cystitis. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: In individuals with vulval pain associated with painful bladder syndrome, clinical research shows that taking a specific product containing alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg, docosahexaenoic acid 250 mg, eicosapentaenoic acid 16.67 mg, vitamin E 12 mg, vitamin D 5 mg, and magnesium 56.25 mg (ALAnerv Age; Alfa Wassermann) daily in combination with amitriptyline up to 30 mg daily for 12 weeks reduces pelvic pain between 15% to 49% more than amitriptyline alone. Also, use of the combination supplement more than doubled the number of patients with an improvement in pain during intercourse (97629). It is unclear if the benefit is associated with alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Lyme disease. Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for Lyme disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Male infertility. Most small clinical studies suggest that oral alpha-lipoic acid might improve sperm characteristics in males with infertility. However, it is unclear whether alpha-lipoic acid improves pregnancy or live birth rates in these individuals. Details: A meta-analysis of three small clinical studies in males with infertility shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 80-90 days improves sperm motility and increases sperm concentration and semen volume when compared with placebo (110108). More recent clinical trials in males with idiopathic asthenozoospermia or history of recurrent pregnancy loss shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally daily for 80-90 days improves sperm motility, sperm concentration, and semen volume and reduces sperm DNA damage when compared with placebo (110110,111425). However, a small clinical study in males with infertility due to high levels of sperm DNA damage shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 80 days does not improve pregnancy rate, sperm motility, sperm concentration, semen volume, or other measures of sperm health when compared with placebo (110109). Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in combination with other ingredients. A small clinical study in males with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) shows that taking one tablet daily of a specific product (Fertiplus SOD, Idi-Pharma) containing alpha-lipoic acid, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and other nutrients 30 days prior to IVF procedures improves the pregnancy rate from 9% of all embryo transfers pre-treatment to 45% and reduces the rate of miscarriage when compared to baseline (97627). It is unclear if the benefit is associated with alpha-lipoic acid, the other ingredients, or the combination.
• Metabolic syndrome. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with metabolic syndrome. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with metabolic syndrome shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally daily for 12 weeks modestly improved serum triglyceride levels, but not serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, when compared with placebo (111307). However, the study may have been inadequately powered to detect a difference between groups.
• Migraine headache. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with migraine headaches. Details: A small clinical study in females with episodic migraines shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg twice daily for 12 weeks reduces migraine frequency by around 2 attacks per month and improves migraine severity, but not the duration of migraine pain, when compared with placebo (110117). Another small clinical study in adults with migraines shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg twice daily for 6 months reduces migraine frequency by at least 50% in 69% of patients and reduces the need for migraine treatment by 56% when compared to baseline, although the validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group (96229). In contrast, one small clinical study in adults with migraine headaches shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily for 3 months does not improve monthly migraine attack frequency when compared with placebo (21660). The reasons for these disparate findings are unclear. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in adolescents for migraine prophylaxis. A small open-label study in adolescents aged 10-19 years with a history of migraine shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg with flunarizine 5 mg as prophylaxis daily for 12 weeks reduces the frequency of migraine attacks and reduces monthly migraine headache days by 9 days, but does not reduce migraine severity or measures of disability when compared with flunarizine alone. For every 3 patients treated with alpha-lipoic acid and flunarizine over flunarizine alone, 1 additional patient had a 50% or greater reduction in migraine frequency (111706). The validity of these effects is limited by a lack of blinding.
• Muscle strength. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid prevents a loss of muscle strength after exercise. Details: In athletes, a small clinical trial shows that taking a single dose of alpha-lipoic acid 150 mg (Athenion GmbH) after an intensive load protocol does not prevent loss of leg strength approximately 24 hours later when compared with placebo. However, taking the same dose for 2 days, followed by 300 mg daily during a 6-day training protocol, results in the maintenance of leg strength, compared with a loss in those taking placebo (104652).
• Neck pain. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg plus superoxide dismutase 140 IU once daily for 2 months, along with physiotherapy, reduces chronic neck pain in approximately 50% more patients when compared with physiotherapy alone (90440).
• Neuropathic pain. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial in patients with neuropathic pain. Details: In patients with peripheral neuropathies, taking alpha-lipoic acid orally, up to 1800 mg daily for 6 weeks, is less effective for reducing pain intensity scores and improving quality of life than pregabalin, taken orally in doses up to 450 mg daily (112940). A nonblinded clinical study in patients with refractory chronic lumbosacral radicular pain shows that taking alpha lipoic acid orally, 600 mg three times daily for 3 weeks followed by 600 mg daily for 2 weeks, in addition to a single, pulsed radiofrequency treatment to the dorsal ganglion, improves pain severity and disability scores at 6 months when compared with pulsed radiofrequency treatment alone. A pain score of less than 4 is achieved at 12 weeks in about 80% of patients taking alpha lipoic acid, compared with about 65% of patients without alpha-lipoic acid. (107895).
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for NAFLD. Details: Small clinical studies in adults with NAFLD and obesity show that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally twice daily for 8-12 weeks does not improve liver health markers, such as liver function test levels or liver steatosis, cholesterol levels, body weight, or visceral fat when compared with placebo or control (104660,100710,111304). However, these clinical trials show that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg orally twice daily for 8-12 weeks may provide small improvements in interleukin-6 levels, adiponectin levels, and insulin resistance (104660,100710). However, these studies may have been inadequately powered to detect differences in some of these outcomes.
• Orthostatic hypotension. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for orthostatic hypotension. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 430-788 mg orally daily for a mean of 2.3 years attenuates changes in blood pressure upon standing when compared with baseline in some patients with chronic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension or orthostatic intolerance (101868).
• Pain (chronic). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for various chronic pain conditions. Details: A clinical study in patients with untreated, mild to moderate idiopathic pain (i.e. neuropathic pain, joint pain, and muscle pain with unknown etiology) shows that taking oral alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg once or twice daily for 2 months may improve pain severity when compared with baseline, with greater effects observed with daily doses of 800 mg (107887). Although the study enrolled a control group, a statistical comparison between groups was not conducted, limiting the validity of this finding. Additionally, sub-analyses evaluating outcomes based on type of chronic pain were not conducted.
• Periodontitis. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small clinical study in patients with moderate or advanced periodontitis shows that taking a supplement containing alpha-lipoic acid 25 mg, coenzyme Q10, cranberry extract, grapeseed extract, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc twice daily for 8 weeks in addition to standard nonsurgical therapy does not reduce periodontal indices including bleeding on probing, gingival recession, plaque index, or inflammation, among others, when compared with placebo (111708).
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for PAD. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg twice daily reduces pain associated with exercise in people with PAD and claudication when compared with placebo. However, exercise tolerance does not seem to improve (16391).
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for PCOS. Details: Alpha-lipoic acid has been studied alone and in combination with inositol for the treatment of PCOS. Observational research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 2000 mg, alone or in combination with myo-inositol (Sinopol, Laborest s.r.l.) 800-1000 mg, daily for 3-24 months is associated with reduced insulin levels and reduced menstrual cycle length, but not weight loss or improvements in hirsutism or insulin resistance, when compared with baseline (101869,101870). Another observational study shows that taking alpha lipoic acid 800 mg with a higher dose of myo-inositol 2000 mg is associated with slightly greater weight loss when compared with a lower dose of myo-inositol 1000 mg daily (103751). Also, taking alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg orally daily for 12 weeks does not affect levels of hormones, although improvements occur when alpha-lipoic acid is taken in combination with inositol 1000 mg daily (101870). The validity of this research is limited by its observational nature. A meta-analysis of 7 controlled trials in young, overweight adults with PCOS, shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600-1800 mg daily orally for 6-25 weeks, alone or in combination with inositol, reduces fasting blood sugar, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), when compared with control. However, there is no effect on insulin levels, body mass index, lipid profile, or hormone levels (112939).
• Preterm labor. It is unclear if vaginal alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for preventing preterm birth. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that administering alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg vaginally once nightly for 30 days after an episode of preterm labor prevents cervical shortening when compared with placebo (96226). It is unclear if these findings are associated with a reduction in the rate of preterm birth.
• Radiation exposure. Oral alpha-lipoic acid might reduce radiation levels in children living in areas contaminated with radiation. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 400 mg, alone or in combination with vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopherol) 200 mg, daily for 28 days reduces chemiluminescence in leukocytes and urinary radioactivity when compared to baseline in children living in areas contaminated with radiation (21669).
• Schizophrenia. There is mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of oral alpha-lipoic acid in patients with schizophrenia. Details: A small clinical study in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia receiving conventional antipsychotic therapy shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 300 mg daily for 8 weeks improves scores related to negative symptoms of schizophrenia, but not positive symptoms, when compared with placebo (110114). A very small, open-label study in patients with stable, chronic schizophrenia shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg daily along with ongoing antipsychotic medication for 4 months improves symptoms by 64% when compared to baseline. Specific symptom domains, including negative and positive symptoms, excitement, depressive symptoms, and extrapyramidal symptoms all show improvement, although the validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a control group (96228). In contrast, another small clinical study in patients with schizophrenia stabilized on antipsychotic therapy for at least 1 year shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 100 mg daily for 16 weeks does not improve symptoms of schizophrenia or cognitive function when compared with placebo (110115). Also, a very small, open-label study in patients with schizophrenia shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg daily along with conventional antipsychotic therapy for 12 weeks does not improve positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia when compared to baseline (110116). A meta-analysis of 4 studies in patients with clinically stable schizophrenia does not show any benefit of oral alpha-lipoic acid when compared with placebo, although details of the analysis are limited (112936). Overall, the reasons for the disparate research findings are unclear, but they may be due to differences in the alpha-lipoic acid dose, treatment duration, and severity of schizophrenia across studies. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been evaluated in combination with other ingredients. A small clinical study in patients who responded well to antipsychotic therapy after a single episode of psychosis shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 150 mg, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 1000 mg, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 500 mg twice daily does not prevent 2-year cumulative relapse or delay relapse time when compared with placebo (90675).
• Sciatica. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for sciatica. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with sciatica secondary to a herniated disc shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Byodiniral 300 QR, MDM SpA) 600 mg daily for 60 days improves signs and symptoms of sciatica and decreases the use of analgesics when compared with taking acetyl-L-carnitine (Nicetile, SigmaTau Ind. Farm. Riunite SpA) 1180 mg daily (21671). However, taking alpha-lipoic acid does not affect sleep quality in these patients. Alpha-lipoic acid has also been studied in combination with other ingredients for sciatica. Research in patients with sciatica secondary to a herniated disk shows that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg with acetyl-L-carnitine, resveratrol, and cholecalciferol orally once daily for 30 days, concurrently with a physiotherapy protocol, reduces pain and disability, and improves quality of life when compared with the physiotherapy protocol alone (112933). Additionally, observational research in patients with sciatic pain due to herniated discs suggests that taking a combination of alpha-lipoic acid 800 mg, myrrh extract 200 mg, and palmitoylethanolamide 600 mg daily for 20 days along with 3 sessions of oxygen-ozone therapy over 30 days is associated with slight improvements in pain when compared with oxygen-ozone therapy alone (111113). It is unclear if the effects are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Tinnitus. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for tinnitus. Details: A small observational study in patients with tinnitus associated with cochlear dysfunction and metabolic syndrome suggests that taking alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg for 60 days is associated with improvements in several audiometric parameters and overall tinnitus handicap inventory scores, with a larger effect on functional and emotional scores, when compared to baseline. However, patients with tinnitus secondary to acoustic nerve lesions do not appear to benefit from alpha-lipoic acid supplementation (111705). The validity of these effects is limited by a lack of a comparator group.
• Toxin-induced liver damage. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: A small clinical study in patients being treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid 250 mg, coenzyme Q10 200 mg, and acetyl-L-carnitine 250 mg twice daily for 2 weeks reduces the risk of drug-induced liver injury by 73% when compared with placebo (107445). It is unclear if these findings are due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Vertigo. Oral alpha-lipoic acid has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research in adults with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 20 ng/mL shows that taking a specific combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg, zinc 7.5 mg, L-carnosine 165 mg, curcumin 100 mg, piperine 1 mg, cholecalciferol 800 units, vitamin B2 0.8 mg, and vitamin B6 1 mg (Vertistop D, Difass) orally daily for 6 months moderately reduces the number of vertigo relapse episodes when compared with control. However, in patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels greater than 20 ng/mL that took a specific combination product containing alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg, zinc 7.5 mg, L-carnosine 165 mg, curcumin 100 mg and piperine 1 mg (Vertistop L, Difass) orally daily for 6 months there was no difference in relapse episodes when compared with control (111294). It is unclear if this effect is due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Vitiligo. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for vitiligo when used in conjunction with phototherapy. Details: When used in combination with phototherapy, clinical research shows that taking alpha-lipoic acid (Shandong Qidu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 300 mg daily for 6 months does not improve repigmentation when compared with placebo (104654). In contrast, a small clinical study shows that taking two tablets of a specific combination product (Lipoacid Combi, General Topics) containing alpha-lipoic acid 50 mg, vitamin C 50 mg, vitamin E 20 mg, and polyunsaturated fatty acids 12%, starting 8 weeks prior to ultraviolet B phototherapy and continuing for 6 months during phototherapy treatment, seems to increase the likelihood of repigmentation by 29% when compared with placebo (19210). It is not clear if this effect is due to alpha-lipoic acid, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Wilson disease. Although there is interest in using oral alpha-lipoic acid for Wilson disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition.
• Wound healing. It is unclear if oral alpha-lipoic acid is beneficial for wound healing. Details: A small clinical study shows that taking a specific alpha-lipoic acid product (Byodinoral 300, M.D.M. Spa) 300 mg one hour before and one hour after hyperbaric oxygen therapy administered daily for 14-30 days reduces wound area in 30% more patients with ischemic ulcers when compared with hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone (21677).
• Wrinkled skin. Although there is interest in using topical alpha-lipoic acid for wrinkled skin, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of alpha-lipoic acid for this condition. More evidence is needed to rate alpha-lipoic acid for these uses.

(Read more about ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID)

LIKELY EFFECTIVE

• Intermittent claudication. Oral use of policosanol can increase walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication. Details: Multiple, small, randomized controlled trials show that taking policosanol 10 mg orally once to twice daily for up to 2 years moderately improves walking distance when compared with placebo, lovastatin, or aspirin, and has similar effects to ticlopidine, in patients with intermittent claudication (2931,65359,65372,65378,69114).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Angioplasty. It is unclear if oral policosanol is beneficial for patients after angioplasty. Details: Preliminary clinical research has evaluated the addition of policosanol to dual antiplatelet therapy in Chinese patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent for an acute coronary syndrome. The addition of policosanol 40 mg orally daily with clopidogrel 75 mg daily and aspirin 300 mg daily for 30 days does not further reduce HPR when compared with taking clopidogrel and aspirin alone (100684).
• Coronary heart disease (CHD). It is unclear if oral policosanol is beneficial for patients with CHD. Details: One small clinical study in adults with CHD shows that taking policosanol 5 mg twice daily, alone or in combination with aspirin 125 mg for 20 months, can reduce cardiac events and improve maximum oxygen uptake during a treadmill exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) when compared with pretreatment (2941). Policosanol has also been evaluated as part of combination products for CHD. Clinical research in statin-intolerant patients with CHD treated with a percutaneous intervention (PCI) shows that taking a specific combination product (Armolipid Plus, Rottapharm S.p.A.) containing policosanol, berberine, red yeast rice, folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and astaxanthin daily for 3 months reduces total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, to a greater extent than ezetimibe 10 mg daily. Combining this specific product with ezetimibe produces additional improvements after 1 year of treatment when compared with either agent alone (97232). Other clinical research in patients with CHD treated with PCI shows that taking the same product in combination with a low-dose statin for 3 months reduces total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol when compared with low-dose statin treatment alone (97233). It is unclear if the benefits of this combination product are due to policosanol, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Familial hypercholesterolemia. It is unclear if oral policosanol is beneficial for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a specific form of policosanol (Lesstanol Octa-60, Garuda International) 20 mg orally daily for 12 weeks does not significantly decrease total or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (14404).
• Hypercholesterolemia. It is unclear if oral policosanol is beneficial for patients with hypercholesterolemia. Details: Current clinical research on the use of policosanol for hyperchloremia is conflicting. The reasons for these discrepant findings are unclear but may be explained by differences in doses, treatment durations, patient populations, and specific policosanol products studied. Clinical research in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, largely conducted by researchers in Cuba, shows that taking policosanol orally 5-20 mg daily for 8-24 weeks lowers total cholesterol by 9% to 29% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 11% to 42% and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 7% to 34% when compared with placebo or other controls (2927,2928,2929,2930,2943,2944,14298,14411,65348,65354)(65355,65356,65361,65363,65365,65369,65375,65380,65383,69104)(69105,69106,65362,65351,100178). When compared to conventional drugs, some research also shows that policosanol 10 mg daily lowers total and LDL cholesterol by a similar amount as fluvastatin 20 mg daily and simvastatin 10 mg daily (8147,12190). Atorvastatin 10 mg daily appears to be more effective than policosanol 10 mg daily for lowering total and LDL cholesterol (14411). However, the majority of research conducted outside of Cuba has been contradictory. Research in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, conducted by German, Canadian, Croatia, South African, Netherlands, U.S., and Italian researchers, shows that taking policosanol 10-80 mg daily for 4-12 weeks does not significantly decrease total or LDL cholesterol when compared with placebo (14336,15062,69111,69119,69107,69109,69110,12166,14404). These studies included policosanol derived from Cuban sugar cane, U.S. sugar cane, wheat germ, and red yeast rice and specific policosanol products (Lesstanol Octa-60, Garuda International; Cholesstor, Pharmed Group) (69107,69109,69110,12166,14404). Policosanol has also been studied in combination with other ingredients. Taking a product containing policosanol 10 mg, berberine 500 mg, and red yeast rice 200 mg daily for up to 12 months seems to reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic patients when compared with placebo or ezetimibe 10 mg (34262,34283,34301). Taking a specific combination product (Armolipid Plus, Rottapharm S.p.A.) containing policosanol, berberine, red yeast rice, folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and astaxanthin daily for 8 weeks appears to reduce total cholesterol by 13% and LDL cholesterol by 21%, as well as increasing HDL cholesterol by 5% when compared with baseline in patients with metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia (89438). A meta-analysis also shows that taking this combination product for up to 1 year reduces total cholesterol by 10%, LDL cholesterol by 14%, and triglycerides by 7%, and increases HDL cholesterol by 4%, when compared with baseline in patients with hypercholesterolemia (92142). It is unclear if the benefits of this combination product are due to policosanol, red yeast rice (which contains monacolin K, a chemical similar to lovastatin), other ingredients, or the combination.
• Hypertension. It is unclear if oral policosanol is beneficial for patients with hypertension. Details: Clinical research in adults with prehypertension shows that taking policosanol 20 mg orally daily for 12 weeks reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by about 7%, compared to non-significant changes with placebo. A lower dose of policosanol 10 mg daily did not improve blood pressure when compared with placebo (100177).
• Metabolic syndrome. Oral policosanol has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear. Details: Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a specific combination product (Armolipid Plus, Rottapharm S.p.A.) containing policosanol, berberine, red yeast rice, folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and astaxanthin daily for 18 weeks improves systolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and flow-mediated dilation in patients with metabolic syndrome when compared with control (34289). It is unclear if these effects are due to policosanol, other ingredients, or the combination. More evidence is needed to rate policosanol for these uses.

(Read more about POLICOSANOL)

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used with apparent safety in doses of up to 2 grams daily for 3 months to 2 years. Lower doses of 600 mg daily have been used with apparent safety for up to 4 years (3540,3541,3542,20479,96449,97630,101867,101869,103327,103333)(103335,104651,104660). ...when used topically and appropriately. A cream containing alpha-lipoic acid 5% has been used with apparent safety in clinical trials lasting up to 12 weeks (12021). ...when given intravenously and appropriately. Intravenous alpha-lipoic acid has been used safely in doses of up to 6000 mg weekly in clinical trials lasting up to 3 weeks (3540,3557,10148,12106).

CHILDREN: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used with apparent safety in doses of up to 600 mg daily for 3 months in children aged 10-17 years (103330).

CHILDREN: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when used orally in amounts over 600 mg daily. At least five cases of alpha-lipoic acid intoxication have been reported for children aged 14 months to 16 years who consumed alpha-lipoic acid at doses up to 226 mg/kg (approximately 2400 mg). Symptoms of alpha-lipoic acid-induced intoxication included seizures, acidosis, vomiting, and unconsciousness (90444,96227,96234,104653).

PREGNANCY: POSSIBLY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Alpha-lipoic acid has been used safely during pregnancy at doses up to 600 mg daily for up to 4 weeks (96222).

LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

(Read more about ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID)

LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts. Policosanol seems to be safe when used in doses of 5-80 mg daily for up to 3 years (2927,2928,2929,2930,2931,2943,2944,12166,14298,14336)(14404,14411,65383,89438,89454,89451,100178,103832).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

(Read more about POLICOSANOL)

ALKYLATING AGENTS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, the antioxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid might alter the effectiveness of alkylating agents.  Details The use of antioxidants like alpha-lipoic acid during chemotherapy is controversial. There are concerns that antioxidants could reduce the activity of chemotherapy drugs that generate free radicals (391). However, some researchers theorize that antioxidants might make chemotherapy more effective by reducing oxidative stress that might interfere with apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells (14012,14013). More evidence is needed to determine what effect, if any, antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid have on chemotherapy. Advise patients to consult their oncologist before using alpha-lipoic acid.

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, alpha-lipoic acid may have antiplatelet effects and may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.  Details In vitro, alpha-lipoic acid inhibits platelet aggregation (98682).

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS Interaction Rating = Minor Be watchful with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Unlikely •  Level of Evidence = B Theoretically, taking alpha-lipoic acid with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.  Details Although some small clinical studies have suggested that alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood glucose levels (3545,3874,3875,3876,20490,20493,104650), larger clinical studies in patients with diabetes have shown no clinically meaningful effect (20494,20495,20496,90443,90445,110118). Additionally, co-administration of single doses of alpha-lipoic acid and glyburide or acarbose did not cause detectable drug interactions in healthy volunteers (3870).

ANTITUMOR ANTIBIOTICS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, the antioxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid might alter the effectiveness of antitumor antibiotics.  Details The use of antioxidants like alpha-lipoic acid during chemotherapy is controversial. There are concerns that antioxidants could reduce the activity of antitumor antibiotic drugs, which work by generating free radicals (391). However, some researchers theorize that antioxidants might make chemotherapy more effective by reducing oxidative stress that might interfere with apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells (14012,14013). More evidence is needed to determine what effect, if any, antioxidants such as alpha-lipoic acid have on chemotherapy involving antitumor antibiotics. Advise patients to consult their oncologist before using alpha-lipoic acid.

THYROID HORMONE Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, alpha-lipoic acid might decrease the effects of thyroid hormone drugs.  Details Animal research suggests that co-administration of thyroxine with alpha-lipoic acid reduces conversion into the active T3 form (8946).

(Read more about ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID)

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = B Theoretically, taking policosanol with other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.  Details Some clinical research shows that taking policosanol 10-50 mg daily for 7-15 days can inhibit platelet aggregation in healthy patients (2936,2937,2938,103832). Although, one clinical trial shows that taking policosanol 10 mg twice daily for 2 weeks prior to warfarin dosing does not affect warfarin pharmacokinetics or warfarin response (20083). Furthermore, a study in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent found that taking policosanol 40 mg plus clopidogrel and aspirin daily for 30 days modestly reduced the risk for minor bleeding events when compared with taking clopidogrel and aspirin alone (100684). Until more is known, use with caution.

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = B Theoretically, policosanol might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.  Details Clinical research shows that policosanol can lower blood glucose levels (100178).

BETA-BLOCKERS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Probable •  Level of Evidence = A Concomitant use of policosanol with beta-blockers can cause additive blood pressure-lowering effects.  Details Clinical research shows that policosanol 5 mg daily can have additive blood pressure-lowering effects in patients with hypertension who are taking beta-blockers (65383). Also, animal research shows that policosanol can increase the blood-pressure lowering effects of propranolol (23775).

NITROPRUSSIDE (Nitropress) Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, concomitant use of policosanol with nitroprusside might cause additive blood pressure-lowering effects.  Details Animal research shows that taking policosanol along with nitroprusside can increase the blood pressure-lowering effects of nitroprusside (65374).

WARFARIN (Coumadin) Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = B Theoretically, taking policosanol with warfarin might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.  Details Some clinical research shows that taking policosanol 10-50 mg daily for 7-15 days can inhibit platelet aggregation in healthy patients (2936,2937,2938). However, one clinical trial shows that taking policosanol 10 mg twice daily for 2 weeks prior to warfarin dosing does not affect warfarin pharmacokinetics or warfarin response (20083).

(Read more about POLICOSANOL)

General ...Alpha-lipoic acid appears to be generally well tolerated when used orally, intravenously, or topically.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Headache, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
Topically: Irritation and rash.
Intravenously: Nausea and vomiting.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Case reports have raised concerns about insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS).

Cardiovascular ...Orally, hypotension has been reported rarely in a clinical trial (104650).

Dermatologic ...Orally, skin rash and itching have been reported after use of alpha-lipoic acid (16391,20490,21674,96233,104650). Topically, alpha-lipoic acid can cause local irritation, including burning, stinging, mild rash, or contact dermatitis (12021,30836,111701). In one case, an 86-year-old female developed allergic contact dermatitis with severe itching and oozing after applying alpha-lipoic acid 5% cream to her lower extremities. The patient had a positive skin patch test for alpha-lipoic acid, confirming the causative agent (111701). In another case, a 47-year-old female developed contact dermatitis characterized by a pruritic rash and labial adhesions hours after applying a 5% vulvar serum containing lipoic acid 0.9 grams, vitamin E, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and retinol palmitate to the vulva to treat vulvar lichen sclerosis. Testing confirmed that the causative agent was alpha-lipoic acid (111704). Intravenously, local allergic reactions have occurred at the injection site (1547).

Endocrine ...Orally, at least 50 published cases of insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) thought to be associated with use of alpha-lipoic acid have been reported (16392,104656,104657,104658,104659,107893,112941). Most reported cases have been associated with alpha-lipoic acid supplements or enriched foods; IAS has not been reported with intake of alpha-lipoic acid in food. IAS has been linked to compounds, such as alpha-lipoic acid, that contain sulfhydryl groups, but it is unclear if taking alpha-lipoic acid with other drugs known to trigger IAS increases the risk (107893,112941). IAS is characterized by very high serum insulin levels and high titers of autoantibodies against endogenous insulin. Sulfhydryl groups interact with disulfide bonds of insulin, increasing its immunogenicity (112941). Symptoms include severe spontaneous hypoglycemic episodes, as well as hunger and neuroglycopenic symptoms such as blurred vision, weakness, confusion, dizziness, sweating, and palpitations (104656,104657,107893,112941). Time to onset of IAS ranges from 1 week to 4 months (107893). Most cases of IAS have been reported in Japan and have occurred in individuals with the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*04:06 allele (16392,104656,107893). For patients of European decent, cases of IAS have mainly occurred in individuals with the HLA-DRB1*04:03 allele (104656,104658,104659,107893). This suggests that either of these alleles might produce a genetic predisposition to alpha-lipoic acid-associated IAS. Reported doses of alpha-lipoic acid have ranged from 200-800 mg daily, most commonly 600 mg daily (104656,104658,104659,107893). IAS-related hypoglycemic episodes have been treated with oral or intravenous glucose or sucrose, as well as prednisone. Episodes decline following discontinuation of alpha-lipoic acid, and insulin values normalize within 3-9 months (104656,104658,104659,107893).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting have been reported after use of alpha-lipoic acid (3557,12106,16391,20475,30844,96225,101868,103327,103328,103333)(103335,104650,104654,104655). Higher doses (1200-1800 mg daily) seem to cause more severe effects than lower doses (600 mg daily) (3557,20475,30844,96225). Alpha-lipoic acid may also cause a burning sensation from the throat to the stomach, abdominal discomfort, or bitter taste when used orally (20478,20490,21664,96225). Intravenously, alpha-lipoic acid can cause gastrointestinal upset, including nausea and vomiting. Adverse effects are more common in patients receiving higher intravenous doses (3557) and may be more common in the elderly (96225).

Genitourinary ...Orally, alpha-lipoic acid may cause urinary disorders (20479). Oral alpha-lipoic acid has also been associated with a change in urine odor (96225,103327).

Neurologic/CNS ...Orally, alpha-lipoic acid may cause headache (21664,103328,104655) or dizziness (104650).
Intravenously, paresthesias have been reported to worsen temporarily at the beginning of therapy. Also, intravenous alpha-lipoic acid can cause headache. Adverse effects are more common in patients receiving higher intravenous doses (3557).

(Read more about ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID)

General ...Orally, policosanol is usually well-tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Dysuria, headache, insomnia, polyphagia, pruritis, skin rash, somnolence, upset stomach, vertigo, weight loss.

Dermatologic ...Orally, policosanol can cause pruritus or skin rash, but these events appear to be uncommon (65369,95374,100178). In one clinical trial that included over 50 patients, one case of policosanol-associated skin rash was reported (65369). In another study, 1 out of 40 patients treated with policosanol 10 mg daily reported pruritus (95374).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, policosanol can cause upset stomach or polyphagia (2937).

Genitourinary ...Orally, policosanol can cause dysuria (2937).

Hematologic ...A case gum bleeding has been reported in a patient taking policosanol 20 mg and aspirin 100 mg daily for 7 days (2937).

Neurologic/CNS ...Orally, policosanol may cause headache, mild vertigo, somnolence, irritability, or insomnia but these events are uncommon. In one clinical study, 1 out of 44 subjects receiving policosanol 20 mg daily 12 weeks experienced mild vertigo and 2 out of 44 experienced mild headache (14404). In another study, 2 out of 70 patients taking policosanol 10 mg daily for 8 weeks experienced headache (69119). In another study, 1 out of 40 patients taking policosanol 10 mg daily reported insomnia (95374).

Other ...Orally, policosanol has been associated with weight loss. However, evidence from a post-market surveillance study of patients taking policosanol 5-15 mg daily shows that this adverse event is uncommon (95375).

(Read more about POLICOSANOL)