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Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Neuralisse: Amount, Research and Safety
Alpha-lipoic acid is second in the 575 mg Neuralisse blend, so a capsule holds at most 287 mg, and likely less. The label prints no amount. Most nerve studies used 600 mg a day, and the clearest results came from IV infusions, not pills. It can lower blood sugar, so people with diabetes should ask a doctor first.
Written by the Neuralisse editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is alpha-lipoic acid?
Alpha-lipoic acid, also called thioctic acid, is an antioxidant compound the body makes in small amounts. It helps cells turn food into energy.
As a supplement, it is best known from research on nerve discomfort in people with diabetes. Some of that research gave it by IV drip in a clinic. In the U.S., it is sold as a dietary supplement and is not approved by the FDA for any condition (LiverTox, Alpha lipoic acid).
| Label name | Alpha Lipoic Acid |
|---|---|
| What it is | Thioctic acid · Antioxidant compound |
| Position in the blend | 2 of 6 (labels list blend ingredients from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per capsule | Not disclosed; at most 287 mg by label math |
| Amount used in research | 600 mg a day; the clearest results used IV infusions for 3 weeks |
| Strength of evidence | Mixed |
| Why it is used | Studied for nerve discomfort in people with diabetes |
| Main caution | Can lower blood sugar and add to diabetes drugs; nausea; rare insulin autoimmune syndrome. |
On the label
How much alpha-lipoic acid is in Neuralisse?
The label does not say. Alpha-lipoic acid is listed second in the 575 mg blend, so it can weigh at most 287 mg per capsule.
Here is the math. FDA rules say a blend lists ingredients from most to least by weight (FDA, Labeling guide). The second ingredient can never outweigh the first, so it can be at most half the blend. Half of 575 mg is 287 mg, rounded down.
| Label name | Alpha Lipoic Acid |
|---|---|
| Position in blend | 2 of 6 |
| Printed amount | Not published |
| Most it could weigh | 287 mg per capsule |
| Likely amount | Lower, since magnesium glycinate fills much of the blend |
The real figure is likely well under 287 mg. Magnesium glycinate comes first and must supply 80 mg of magnesium, plus the weight of its glycine. Only the maker knows the exact split.
Research
What does research say about alpha-lipoic acid for nerves?
The results are mixed. A meta-analysis found that 600 mg a day given by IV for three weeks reduced nerve pain in people with diabetes, but the benefit of pills was unclear (Mijnhout et al., 2012).
IV infusions
Four trials were pooled in the 2012 meta-analysis. The clear effect came from 600 mg IV for three weeks, given in a clinic.
Oral capsules
The same review could not confirm a clear benefit from oral doses. Capsules are what supplements like Neuralisse use.
Who paid
All four trials were funded by a company that makes alpha-lipoic acid. That does not void them, but it calls for caution.
Longer view
LiverTox notes that in trials it was not shown to improve symptoms or slow progression of neuropathy over time (LiverTox, Alpha lipoic acid).
The NCCIH puts it this way: alpha-lipoic acid "might be helpful" for diabetic nerve problems, but people should never replace diabetes care with an unproven product (NCCIH, Diabetes and supplements). MSKCC also calls the results mixed (MSKCC, Alpha-lipoic acid). Read the full breakdown in alpha-lipoic acid: what the research shows.
Dose check
How does the Neuralisse amount compare with study doses?
Even at its ceiling, Neuralisse has less than half the 600 mg used in most studies. LiverTox lists usual supplement doses of 100 to 600 mg, once or twice a day (LiverTox, Alpha lipoic acid).
| Source | Daily amount | How it was taken |
|---|---|---|
| Neuralisse, 1 capsule | At most 287 mg | Oral capsule |
| Meta-analysis, clearest result | 600 mg | IV drip, 3 weeks (Mijnhout et al., 2012) |
| Usual supplement range | 100 to 600 mg, once or twice daily | Oral (LiverTox, Alpha lipoic acid) |
So two gaps stand out. The amount is likely lower than studied, and the delivery is different from the trials with the clearest results. No study has tested Neuralisse itself.
Safety
Is alpha-lipoic acid safe to take every day?
For most adults, alpha-lipoic acid is well tolerated at usual doses, and LiverTox calls it an unlikely cause of liver injury (LiverTox, Alpha lipoic acid). The most common side effect is nausea.
MSKCC lists a few points to know (MSKCC, Alpha-lipoic acid):
- It can lower blood sugar.
- It may add to the effect of insulin and other diabetes medicines.
- Very rarely, it has been linked to insulin autoimmune syndrome, which causes sudden low blood sugar.
Adding alpha-lipoic acid on top of insulin or pills such as sulfonylureas could push blood sugar too low. Tell your doctor before starting, and check your sugar more often in the first weeks if they agree.
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Who should talk to a doctor before taking alpha-lipoic acid?
Diabetes
Anyone using insulin or blood sugar pills, or with frequent lows.
Kidney disease
NCCIH says people with kidney disease need closer monitoring with supplements (NCCIH, Diabetes and supplements).
Other medicines
Anyone on prescriptions, since Neuralisse also holds five other ingredients.
Our take
Is the alpha-lipoic acid in Neuralisse enough to matter?
Probably not at study levels. It is the best-researched nerve ingredient in the blend, but the dose is hidden and capped at 287 mg. The research that looks strongest used IV drips that a capsule cannot copy.
Pros
- The most-studied ingredient for nerve comfort in the formula
- Listed second, so it is one of the larger parts of the blend
- Generally well tolerated, with low liver risk
Cons
- Amount not printed; at most 287 mg
- Oral benefit unclear in the main meta-analysis
- Blood sugar effects matter for the people most likely to buy it
All six
What other ingredients sit beside alpha-lipoic acid?
Alpha-lipoic acid comes after magnesium glycinate and before butcher's broom, which has its own diabetes caution.
Burning, tingling or numbness in the feet, often worse at night, can be a sign of nerve damage from diabetes (NIDDK, Peripheral neuropathy). A doctor's exam comes first. Keeping blood sugar near your goal is what keeps nerve damage from getting worse. See every ingredient on the ingredients overview.
FAQ
Alpha-lipoic acid in Neuralisse FAQ
How much alpha-lipoic acid is in Neuralisse?
Neuralisse does not print the amount. Because alpha-lipoic acid is listed second in a 575 mg blend, it can weigh at most 287 mg per capsule. The real amount is likely lower, since magnesium glycinate comes first and takes up a large share of the blend's weight.
Does alpha-lipoic acid work for nerve pain?
The evidence is mixed. A 2012 meta-analysis found 600 mg a day by IV for three weeks reduced nerve pain in people with diabetes, but oral benefit was unclear. LiverTox says trials did not show it improves symptoms or progression over time. It is not approved to treat any condition.
Is alpha-lipoic acid safe every day?
For most adults, yes, at usual doses of 100 to 600 mg a day. LiverTox calls it an unlikely cause of liver injury. Nausea is the most common side effect. People with diabetes need care, because it can lower blood sugar and add to their medicines.
Can diabetics take alpha-lipoic acid?
Only with their doctor's okay. Alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar and may add to insulin or other diabetes drugs, which raises the risk of lows. Rarely, it has been tied to insulin autoimmune syndrome. Never use it in place of your diabetes care plan.
What is the difference between oral and IV alpha-lipoic acid?
IV alpha-lipoic acid goes straight into the blood in a clinic, while oral capsules pass through the gut first. The clearest nerve results came from 600 mg given by IV for three weeks. The same review could not confirm a clear benefit from oral doses.
What dose of alpha-lipoic acid is used in studies?
Most nerve studies used 600 mg a day. LiverTox lists usual supplement doses of 100 to 600 mg once or twice a day. Neuralisse holds at most 287 mg per capsule by label math, so it is below the common study dose even at its ceiling.
Who should not take alpha-lipoic acid?
People who take insulin or blood sugar pills should ask a doctor first, since it can drive sugar too low. The Neuralisse label also rules out anyone under 18 and pregnant or nursing mothers. People with kidney disease need closer monitoring with any supplement, according to NCCIH.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an American stocking outlet for Neuralisse, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Neuralisse
Ingredients
All six Neuralisse ingredients in label order, with the most each can weigh and what studies used.
Read more
Side effects
Side effects of all six Neuralisse ingredients, the medicines they clash with, and when to stop.
Read more
Alpha-lipoic acid: what the research shows
IV vs oral, the 600 mg dose, who paid for the trials, and where Neuralisse's at-most-287 mg fits.
Read moreAuthorized American Neuralisse outlet
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