Alpha lipoic acid
Alpha Lipoic Acid in Synaptril: What Does It Do for the Brain?
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant the body makes, and brain research on it is thin. A Cochrane review found no qualifying dementia trials. In Synaptril it is line 2, so a capsule holds at most about 175 mg. Small studies used 600 mg a day. It can lower blood sugar with diabetes medicines.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated
The basics01
What does alpha lipoic acid do for the brain?
Alpha lipoic acid has no proven effect on the brain in people. It is an antioxidant your body makes on its own, and it is line 2 of the Synaptril blend.
Alpha lipoic acid brain research is small. Its common uses are diabetes, nerve pain and liver disease. Even there the evidence is mixed (MSKCC About Herbs, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
| Name on the label | Alpha Lipoic Acid |
|---|---|
| What it is | Antioxidant made by the body (lipoic acid) |
| Place on the label | Line 2 of 6 in the 575 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | At most 175 mg (label order and magnesium math); 288 mg by label order alone |
| Amount used in research | About 200-1,800 mg a day in human studies; 600 mg in small Alzheimer's studies |
| Strength of evidence | No qualifying trials in dementia (Cochrane) |
| Marketed or traditional use | Antioxidant; studied for nerve pain in diabetes |
| Main caution | May lower blood sugar, especially with diabetes medicines; rare autoimmune low blood sugar. |
Blend math02
How much alpha lipoic acid fits in a Synaptril capsule?
A Synaptril capsule holds at most about 175 mg of alpha lipoic acid, and probably much less. The number comes from the magnesium on the label.
The 80 mg of magnesium comes from magnesium glycinate. At the typical 14% share, that takes about 567 mg of the 575 mg blend (GlobalRPH, Magnesium Glycinate). About 8 mg is left for five lines.
In our generous case, a 20% grade, 175 mg is left. Line 2 gets all of it only if the other four are near zero.
| Case | Room for five lines | Alpha lipoic acid |
|---|---|---|
| Typical grade (14%) | About 8 mg | Under 8 mg |
| Generous grade, even split | 175 mg | About 35 mg |
| Generous grade, ceiling | 175 mg | At most 175 mg |
| Label order alone | 575 mg blend | At most 288 mg |
Where the ceiling comes from
Blend lines run from most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36, Supplement Facts). Line 2 cannot outweigh line 1. The full panel is typed out on the Synaptril supplement facts page.
Study doses03
How does the alpha lipoic acid in Synaptril compare with study doses?
The alpha lipoic acid in Synaptril is well below study doses. Human studies used about 200-1,800 mg a day, and the small Alzheimer's studies used 600 mg (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
The 175 mg ceiling is under 30% of 600 mg. An even split, about 35 mg, is roughly 6%. The bars show each line against its studied amount.
Memory04
Does alpha lipoic acid help memory?
No study shows that alpha lipoic acid helps memory. A Cochrane review searched for solid dementia trials and found none that qualified (Cochrane, Alpha lipoic acid for dementia).
Its authors said it cannot be recommended for dementia. The two Alzheimer's studies had 9 and 43 patients and no control group (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
A randomized trial in HIV-related memory problems found no benefit (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). An antioxidant mix that included it did not protect people in an Alzheimer's trial (MSKCC About Herbs, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
Line 2 adds an antioxidant with no memory proof. Weigh the label claims on the Synaptril benefits page.
New or growing memory trouble belongs with a doctor. Sudden confusion, slurred speech, face drooping or weakness on one side means call 911.
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See packsCommon uses05
What is alpha lipoic acid usually taken for?
Alpha lipoic acid is mostly taken for diabetes and diabetic nerve pain. Liver disease is a third use studied (MSKCC About Herbs, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
None of them is a brain claim.
Nerve pain in diabetes
The best-known use. Mixed evidence
Blood sugar
Can lower it, which cuts both ways. Caution
Memory
No qualifying trials. Not shown
Safety06
Is alpha lipoic acid safe with diabetes medicine?
Alpha lipoic acid may add to diabetes medicines and push blood sugar too low. People on insulin or diabetes pills should watch their glucose (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
Other side effects include nausea, vomiting and indigestion. Rarely, it triggers insulin autoimmune syndrome, a low blood sugar caused by the immune system. About 27 cases are reported, mostly in Japan (MSKCC About Herbs, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
| Who | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| On insulin or diabetes pills | Extra drop in blood sugar | Ask first; check glucose |
| Shaky, sweaty or confused spells | Possible low blood sugar | Stop and call your doctor |
| Upset stomach | Nausea or indigestion | Stop if it persists |
Never cut a diabetes dose to make room for a supplement. Read alpha lipoic acid and blood sugar and Synaptril side effects.
Other lines07
Which Synaptril ingredient comes after alpha lipoic acid?
Butcher's broom root extract is line 3. At most about 88 mg of it fits in a capsule, by the same math.
Compare all six on the Synaptril ingredients page.
FAQ08
Synaptril questions people ask
Does alpha lipoic acid cross the blood-brain barrier?
Our sources do not settle it, so we make no claim. They do show that the human brain studies were tiny and used 600 mg a day. A Cochrane review found no qualifying dementia trials, a gap that matters more.
Is the alpha lipoic acid in Synaptril the R form?
The label does not say. It lists plain "Alpha Lipoic Acid" with no form, grade or amount. If the form matters to you, ask the order desk at +1 (323) 348-1373, and treat any answer as the seller's word, not a lab result.
Can the alpha lipoic acid in Synaptril lower my blood sugar?
It might, though the amount is small. Alpha lipoic acid can add to insulin or diabetes pills, so people on them are told to monitor glucose. Show the bottle to your doctor before starting, and keep checking your sugar as you normally do.
Does one Synaptril capsule equal a 600 mg alpha lipoic acid dose?
No. Line 2 of the 575 mg blend holds at most about 175 mg, even in our generous case, and likely far less. That is under 30% of the 600 mg a day used in the small Alzheimer's studies of it.
What is insulin autoimmune syndrome from alpha lipoic acid?
It is a rare reaction in which the immune system causes low blood sugar. About 27 cases tied to alpha lipoic acid are reported, mostly in Japan, in people with a genetic tendency. Repeated shaky or sweaty spells need a doctor promptly.
Should I add an alpha lipoic acid supplement to Synaptril for memory?
There is no good reason to. No qualifying trial shows alpha lipoic acid helps memory, and a bigger dose raises the blood sugar risk. If memory worries you, a doctor's checkup for treatable causes is the better first step to take.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retail partner of Synaptril, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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