
R-Alpha Lipoic AcidBenefits, Dosage & Interactions
Also known as: R-ALA
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) is the naturally occurring, biologically active form of Lipoic Acid, a compound found in every cell of the body. It plays a crucial role in metabolism, specifically in the mitochondria where it helps convert glucose into energy.
How much R-Alpha Lipoic Acid do people take?
The cited human pharmacokinetic studies used single or repeated oral doses of R-(+)-lipoic acid or sodium R-(+)-lipoate in the 100–200 mg range; racemic alpha-lipoic acid trials commonly use 600 mg/day, but that dose has not been separately re-verified for the isolated R-enantiomer here. Route reported: Oral, as an oral liquid formulation or sodium R-(+)-lipoate salt in the cited human studies. Frequency reported: Single or once-daily dosing in the cited pharmacokinetic and wound-healing studies. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for R-Alpha Lipoic Acid — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.
See the full reported protocol and its sourcesResearched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
What published protocols report
Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.
- Reported amounts
- The cited human pharmacokinetic studies used single or repeated oral doses of R-(+)-lipoic acid or sodium R-(+)-lipoate in the 100–200 mg range; racemic alpha-lipoic acid trials commonly use 600 mg/day, but that dose has not been separately re-verified for the isolated R-enantiomer here[1][2]
- Route studied
- Oral, as an oral liquid formulation or sodium R-(+)-lipoate salt in the cited human studies[1][2]
Reported for R-Alpha Lipoic Acid in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.
References & evidence
Documents the R-Alpha Lipoic Acid entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.
- [1]The plasma pharmacokinetics of R-(+)-lipoic acid administered as sodium R-(+)-lipoate to healthy human subjectsCarlson DA, Smith AR, Fischer SJ, Young KL, Packer L · Alternative Medicine Review · 2007 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 18069903
- [2](R)-α-lipoic acid oral liquid formulation: pharmacokinetic parameters and therapeutic efficacyCarlson DA, Young KL, Fischer SJ, Ulrich H · Acta Bio-Medica: Atenei Parmensis · 2014 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 25245645
- [3]Effects of alpha lipoic acid and its R+ enantiomer supplemented to hyperbaric oxygen therapy on interleukin-6, TNF-α and EGF production in chronic leg wound healingAlexandrescu DT, Vaillant JG, Dasanu CA · Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry · 2014 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 23360079
References & Evidence
Sources on this page that document R-Alpha Lipoic Acid dosing, timing and safety.
- [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source
Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.
What is R-Alpha Lipoic Acid studied for?
What is R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
What does the research say about R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Tap a section to expand.
Source for this section: Sources for How does R-Alpha Lipoic Acid work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Source for this section: Sources for When should you take R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.
Put it into practice
Reading about R-Alpha Lipoic Acid is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.
What interacts with R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?
| Interacts with | Severity | Type | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any glp1 + supplement | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, changing how/when oral supplements absorb; rapid weight loss raises the importance of protein and micronutrients.Source pending | Time oral supplements when nausea is lowest; prioritize protein and micronutrients; discuss with your provider. |
| Any supplement + medication | Note | Category ruleConfidence: theoretical | Some supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pending | Specific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist. |
Frequently asked questions about R-Alpha Lipoic Acid
Which studies looked at R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.
- 1.Alpha-lipoic acid in liver metabolism and disease(opens PubMed in a new tab)Free Radic Biol Med · 1998 · PMID 9607614 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9607614/
- 2.(R)-α-lipoic acid oral liquid formulation: pharmacokinetic parameters and therapeutic efficacy(opens PubMed in a new tab)Acta Biomed · 2014 · PMID 25245645 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25245645/
- 3.A Randomized Controlled Trial of Long-Term (R)-α-Lipoic Acid Supplementation Promotes Weight Loss in Overweight or Obese Adults without Altering Baseline Elevated Plasma Triglyceride Concentrations(opens PubMed in a new tab)J Nutr · 2020 · PMID 32692358 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32692358/
- 4.Plasma kinetics, metabolism, and urinary excretion of alpha-lipoic acid following oral administration in healthy volunteers(opens PubMed in a new tab)J Clin Pharmacol · 2003 · PMID 14551180 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14551180/
Sources cited on this page
Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.
- PubChem CID 6112(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6112
Verify at
Publisher search links for R-Alpha Lipoic Acid. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Institutes of Health · publisher search
- Mayo Clinic(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Mayo Clinic · publisher search
- Cochrane Library(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Cochrane · publisher search
- Examine.com(publisher search, opens in a new tab)Examine.com · publisher search
- DrugBank(publisher search, opens in a new tab)DrugBank Online · publisher search
- FDA-approved labeling (DailyMed)(publisher search, opens in a new tab)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · publisher search
- PubMed literature search(publisher search, opens in a new tab)National Library of Medicine · publisher search
DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.
What is the short answer on R-Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) is the naturally occurring, biologically active form of Lipoic Acid, a compound found in every cell of the body. It plays a crucial role in metabolism, specifically in the mitochondria where it helps convert glucose into energy.
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid cheat sheet
DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Supplement
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) is the naturally occurring, biologically active form of Lipoic Acid, a compound found in every cell of the body. It plays a crucial role in metabolism, specifically in the mitochondria where it helps convert glucose into energy.
Evidence
Limited
Human observational or case data only — no randomized trials.
Studied range
The cited human pharmacokinetic studies used single or repeated oral doses of R-(+)-lipoic acid or sodium R-(+)-lipoate in the 100–200 mg range; racemic alpha-lipoic acid trials commonly use 600 mg/day, but that dose has not been separately re-verified for the isolated R-enantiomer here
Route
Oral, as an oral liquid formulation or sodium R-(+)-lipoate salt in the cited human studies
Frequency studied
Single or once-daily dosing in the cited pharmacokinetic and wound-healing studies
Half-life
R-(+)-lipoic acid reached higher and more consistent plasma levels than the S-enantiomer in the cited pharmacokinetic work, though exact half-life figures were not reported in these abstracts
Timing
in the morning
With food
on an empty stomach
Key references
- The plasma pharmacokinetics of R-(+)-lipoic acid administered as sodium R-(+)-lipoate to healthy human subjects (2007)
- (R)-α-lipoic acid oral liquid formulation: pharmacokinetic parameters and therapeutic efficacy (2014)
- Effects of alpha lipoic acid and its R+ enantiomer supplemented to hyperbaric oxygen therapy on interleukin-6, TNF-α and EGF production in chronic leg wound healing (2014)
Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/r-alpha-lipoic-acid
Cite this page
Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:
DoseRoutine. (2026). R-Alpha Lipoic Acid — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/r-alpha-lipoic-acid
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