Evidence supporting the use of: Alpha lipoic acid
For the health condition: Circulation (poor)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that has been explored for its potential benefits in improving circulation, especially in conditions linked to impaired blood flow such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy and chronic venous insufficiency. Scientific evidence primarily comes from clinical trials and mechanistic studies. ALA’s main proposed mechanism is its antioxidant activity, which helps reduce oxidative stress in vascular tissues. This, in turn, may improve endothelial function and blood vessel dilation. Several randomized controlled trials have shown that ALA supplementation can reduce symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, such as pain and numbness, which are often consequences of poor microcirculation. Additionally, some studies suggest ALA may improve blood flow and reduce markers of inflammation in people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
However, while results are promising, the quality and consistency of evidence vary. Meta-analyses indicate moderate efficacy in improving neuropathic symptoms, but direct improvements in objective measures of blood flow or circulation are less consistently demonstrated. The evidence is stronger for ALA’s role in neuropathy symptom relief than for direct circulatory enhancement. Overall, ALA is scientifically validated as supportive therapy in conditions where poor circulation plays a role, particularly diabetic neuropathy, but more research is needed to establish its efficacy for general circulatory improvement.
Other ingredients used for Circulation (poor)
Acetyl L-carnitineAjoene
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
amino acids
anthocyanins
arjun tree
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
astragalus
beet
bergamot
berry flavor
bilberry
black cumin
black currant
black garlic
black pepper
sesame
black tea
blueberry
bromelain
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
butcher's broom
caffeine
capsaicinoids
cat's claw
caterpillar mushroom
celery
chen pi
cherry
Chinese salvia root
chokeberry
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coleus forskohlii
cordyceps
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
dong quai root
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
fish oil
fish protein
flavonols
flaxseed
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
garlic bulb
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
onion
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
hawthorn
hesperetin
hesperidin
hibiscus
horse chestnut
horseradish
Indian tinospora
iron
knotweed
kudzu
L-arginine
l-carnitine
L-citrulline
lovage
magnesium
Marine lipid
Moringa
mustard seed
Naringin
Nattokinase
Nettle
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
orange
oyster mushroom
pine bark
policosanol
pomegranate
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
rose hips
rosemary
rutin
safflower oil
shiitake mushroom
black ginger
spinach
tocotrienols
Triphala
ubiquinol
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
vitamin B
vitamin E
seaweed
Water
Watercress
Watermelon
Mulberry
sarsaparilla
suma
jiaogulan
gastrodia
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
Indian bael
inula racemosa
punarnava
commiphora
smilax
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
peony
lingzhi
Szechuan lovage
prickly ash
siler root
cistanche
dioscorea
dodder
ganoderma
Morinda
zanthoxylum
birch
polyphenols
purslane
Yerba mate
biota seed
goji berry
herbal blend (proprietary)
Sichuan pepper
Yohimbe
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
enzymes blend (proprietary)
cayenne pepper
ashitaba
2-(nitrooxy)ethyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Aralia
arjuna
arginine alpha ketoglutarate
antler
Autumn elaeagnus
arginine creatine
Arginine nitrate
Angelica
Aronia melanocarpa
Allicin
Arginine aspartate
Achyranthes
Auricularia
Adrenergic amines
alpha-lipoic acid
astragaloside
anthocyanidins
Asteraceae
arjunic acid
Alliin
anthocyanosides
Allium tuberosum
Arginine silicate
atractylone
bishop\'s weed
Butea monosperma
black galingale
berry
bur-reed
bioflavonoids
bee products
Buddha\'s hand
Buckwheat
Bassia scoparia
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
coumarin
Centella triterpenes
Chinese silkvine
Cinnamomum
Chinese mountain ant
carqueja
calycosin
capsinoids
Codonopsis
capillary artemisia
cyanidin
Curcuminoid
Citrus
capsaicin
catecholamine
cowherb
curcumen
Centella asiatica
coca
chocolate
Curcuma
chestnut
cinnamaldehyde
costus
Carthamus
cola nut
currant
diallyl sulfide
Diosmin
dismutase
danshen
dong quai
date
diosmetin
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
epicatechin
Eupolyphaga sinensis
elk antler
evodiamine
eicosapentaenoic acid
essential oil blend
ephedrine
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
European five-finger grass
Echium
fruit
flavonoids
fo-ti
flat-stem milk-vetch
fatty acids
fungus
flavanones
Fagopyrum
flavoglycosides
flavans
forskolin
flavonones
flavanols
flavones
Ginsenosides
Glycoside
Gypenoside
garlic
ginkgo flavone glycoside
Hygrophila
heal-all
hazelnut
hydroxytyrosol
Herb Robert
Huang hua
inositol nicotinate
Ilex
long pepper
icariin
Indian kinotree
kola nut
lumbrokinase
Ligustrazin
Ligusticum
Monacolin
mandarin
maral root
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
mace
Monounsaturated fat
Mistletoe
Marine fat
Mate
Mushroom
Nutmeg
Oleuropein
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Oxystelma
Piperine
Puerarin
Piper chaba
Phenylpropanoids
Phaeophyceae
procyanidol
procyanidin
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
Polydatin
proanthocyanidins
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
polyunsaturated fat
Pepper
Pyrrosia
Phthalides
Piper retrofractum
punicalagins
paeoniflorin
Pycnogenol
Pistachio
Polygonum
Ruscus
rockweed
Ruscogenins
Rutosides
ribose
Rosa roxburghii
Sichuan Lovage
Sete sangrias
Serrapeptase
Southern Tsangshu
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Salmon Oil
Salidroside
Salvianolic acid
Shogaol
Schisandrins
Spatholobus
saponins
Sumac
Sulfated polysaccharide
Shilajit
S-allylcysteine
Sweet Orange alcohol
Terminalia
Theobromine
Tea
Taxifolin
Troxerutin
Triterpenes
Taxillus chinensis
Tanshinone
Taraxacum
Vinburnine
Vincamine
Withanolides
Wulinshen
Xantinol Nicotinate
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Xanthone
Yohimbine
Zucchini
Zingerone
Other health conditions supported by alpha lipoic acid
Aging (prevention)Alzheimer's Disease
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Autoimmune Disorders
Body Building
Burning Feet or Hands
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cataracts
Chemical Poisoning
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Circulation (poor)
Circulation (to the brain)
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Fatigue
Fatty Liver Disease
Free Radical Damage
Glaucoma
Heavy Metal Poisoning
Hypertension
Inflammation
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Multiple Sclerosis
Nerve Damage
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Numbness
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Strokes
Triglycerides (high)
Wounds and Sores
Products containing alpha lipoic acid
Vitabase
ALA/ALC 750mg
Thorne
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg
Douglas Laboratories
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 400 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 400 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg
Pure Encapsulations
Amino-NR
Pure Encapsulations
Athletic Nutrients
Douglas Laboratories
Berberine Balance
Designs For Health
Berberine Synergy™
Vitabase
Blood Sugar Formula
Designs For Health
Detox Antiox™
Designs For Health
Detoxification Support Packets
Thorne
Diabenil
Pure Encapsulations
DIM Detox
Pure Encapsulations
GlucoFunction
Pure Encapsulations
GlucoFunction
Pure Encapsulations
Glucose Support Formula
Pure Encapsulations
Glucose Support Formula
Integrative Therapeutics
Glycemic Manager
Pure Encapsulations
HM Complex
Pure Encapsulations
HM Complex
Douglas Laboratories
Juvenon Pro Cognitive
Integrative Therapeutics
K-PAX MitoNutrients
Klean Athlete
Klean Antioxidant ™
Klean Athlete
Klean Focus®
Thorne
L-Arginine Plus Perfusia Plus
Designs For Health
Lipoic Acid Supreme
Pure Encapsulations
Liver G.I. Detox
Pure Encapsulations
LVR Formula
Pure Encapsulations
LVR Formula
Metagenics
Meta Lipoate® 300 mg
Designs For Health
Metabolic Synergy™
Designs For Health
Metabolic Synergy™
Metagenics
MetaGlycemX™
Metagenics
MetaGlycemX
Designs For Health
Metal-X-Synergy™
Pure Encapsulations
Mitochondria-ATP
Designs For Health
Mitochondrial NRG™
Pure Encapsulations
NeuroMood Pure Pack
Designs For Health
NeuroRenew™
Pure Encapsulations
O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations
O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations
O.N.E.™ Multivitamin
Designs For Health
OcuForce™
Pure Encapsulations
Polyphenol Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations
Polyphenol Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations
PureGenomics® UltraMultivitamin
Pure Encapsulations
R-Lipoic Acid Stabilized
Pure Encapsulations
RevitalAge™ Nerve
Pure Encapsulations
RevitalAge™ Ultra
Designs For Health
Sensitol™
Designs For Health
Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid Supreme
Vitabase
Super Antioxidant Formula
Pure Encapsulations
Ultra B-Complex with PQQ
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Benfotiamine
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Preventive
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Preventive ®-EZ Swallow
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Preventive One Daily
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra Preventive® X
Pure Encapsulations
UltraDetox 10-Day Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations
UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations
UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations
UltraNutrient®
Pure Encapsulations
VisionPro Nutrients
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Healthy Balance Daily Packs
Pure Encapsulations
Women's Nutrients
Pure Encapsulations
Women's Nutrients