--- title: "Alpha lipoic acid: benefits, side effects and blood sugar" description: "What the NIH says about alpha lipoic acid: blood sugar, nerve pain, side effects, and which blood sugar labels skip the dose." canonical: https://glucosebench.com/alpha-lipoic-acid alternate_html: https://glucosebench.com/alpha-lipoic-acid language: en-US last_updated: 2026-09-27 type: guia --- # Alpha lipoic acid: what the research says, and what the labels skip 1. [Home](https://glucosebench.com/) 2. [Guides](https://glucosebench.com/guides) 3. Alpha lipoic acid: what the research says, and what the labels skip Alpha lipoic acid shows up in blood sugar supplements and nerve formulas. The evidence the NIH summarizes points in a different direction than the sales pages do. By **GlucoseBench editorial team**Updated September 27, 2026 ![Alpha lipoic acid: what the research says, and what the labels skip](https://glucosebench.com/img/guia-alpha-lipoic-acid-640.webp) Short answer Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been studied in diabetes for blood sugar, nerve pain and other complications. According to the NIH's complementary health center (NCCIH), a 2019 review of 10 studies found it "was no better than placebo at reducing levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, or triglycerides" in type 2 diabetes, while a 2022 review found it "might help reduce pain in people with diabetic neuropathy", though another 2022 review found mixed results. A large 2020 review found it safe in healthy people and in people with certain diseases; the most common side effects are headache, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Two products we've reviewed sell it for blood sugar, and neither says how much is inside. ## What the studies found, according to the NIH Question What NCCIH reports Blood sugar in type 2 diabetes A 2019 review of 10 studies (553 participants): ALA "was no better than placebo at reducing levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, or triglycerides." Nerve pain (diabetic neuropathy) Mixed: a 2022 review of 8 studies found 3 showing improvement and 5 not; another 2022 review of 9 studies found ALA "might help reduce pain in people with diabetic neuropathy." Eyes (diabetic macular edema) A 2011 study of 467 people with type 2 diabetes compared 600 mg a day for 2 years with placebo and found no statistically significant difference. Kidneys (diabetic nephropathy) A 2022 review of 12 studies found ALA "did not improve kidney dysfunction in people with diabetes." Source: NCCIH, "Diabetes and Dietary Supplements" (last updated November 2023), read on September 27, 2026. ## Side effects and safety ### Generally safe NCCIH cites a 2020 review of 71 studies (4,749 participants) that "found alpha-lipoic acid supplementation was safe in healthy individuals and in patients affected by certain diseases", diabetes included. ### Common side effects The most common, according to NCCIH, "are headache, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting." ### With diabetes drugs ALA is sold for blood sugar, so tell your doctor before adding it to diabetes medication, and never change a prescription because of a supplement. ## The products on this site that contain alpha lipoic acid Both sell it for blood sugar, a use the NIH summary finds no support for. Neither gives an amount. Each has a full review. Product Where ALA appears Amount Our verdict Glucore Named on the sales page; no label published Not disclosed Not recommended Blood Sugar Blaster Inside a 12-ingredient blend on the label Not printed Not recommended From each official page and label, read on September 27, 2026. Both are reviewed on this site but not recommended, for reasons explained in their reviews. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the benefits of alpha lipoic acid?** The clearest signal in the NIH summary is for nerve pain in diabetic neuropathy, where one 2022 review found it might help and another found mixed results. For blood sugar itself, a 2019 review found it no better than placebo. **Does alpha lipoic acid lower blood sugar?** According to NCCIH, a 2019 review of 10 studies found it was no better than placebo at reducing blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. **What are the side effects of alpha lipoic acid?** NCCIH lists headache, heartburn, nausea and vomiting as the most common. A large review found it safe in healthy people and in people with certain diseases. **How much alpha lipoic acid is in blood sugar supplements?** The two we've reviewed don't say. Glucore publishes no label, and Blood Sugar Blaster puts ALA inside a blend with no amounts. ## Related pages Reviews ### [Glucore review: "many more" ingredients, zero amounts](https://glucosebench.com/glucore) Glucore is a capsule, two a day. Read more Reviews ### [Blood Sugar Blaster review: good numbers on the label, bad advice on the page](https://glucosebench.com/blood-sugar-blaster) Blood Sugar Blaster is a capsule, two a day. Read more Guides ### [Berberine for blood sugar: the dose, the side effects and the fine print](https://glucosebench.com/berberine-for-blood-sugar) Berberine is a compound found in plants such as barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape. Read more Updated September 27, 2026. 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