Alpha-lipoic acid

2 papers6 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

2 independent labs in 1 country

Funders: China Postdoctoral Science Foundation and 6 more

Humans1
Animals1

Outcomes

Stem cell function

upin human cells1

1 study

Alpha-lipoic acid improves stem cell function in human cells.
“which, in turn, enhances ISC functions.”
Cellscontingent upon the presence of Paneth cells
Lipoic acid functions in Paneth cells to prevent human intestinal stem cell aging
Nature communications1 Jul 2025

Notum

downin human cells1

1 study

Alpha-lipoic acid decreases Notum in human cells.
“and decreases Notum secretion, which, in turn, enhances ISC functions.”
Cellsin Paneth cells
Lipoic acid functions in Paneth cells to prevent human intestinal stem cell aging
Nature communications1 Jul 2025

Associations

Myocardial infarction

downin humans1HR 0.85

1 study

Alpha-lipoic acid lowers the risk of myocardial infarction in humans (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.74-0.98).
“ALA use was significantly associated with a lower risk of MI (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.98)”
Humansdiabetic neuropathy≥6 months
Association between the Use of Alpha-lipoic Acid and Macrovascular Complications in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy
ADA Scientific Sessions 2025 abstract13 Jun 2025