Ingredient 2 of 6
Alpha Lipoic Acid for Memory: How Much Is in Synaptril, and What Studies Found
Alpha lipoic acid for memory has only small, early studies behind it. In Synaptril, it is line 2 of the 575 mg blend with no printed amount. Label order caps it at 288 mg, and after the magnesium glycinate it is likely under about 175 mg. Alzheimer's studies used 600 mg a day and were too small to judge.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated
The label line01
What is alpha-lipoic acid in Synaptril?
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a sulfur compound that your cells make in small amounts. It helps enzymes turn food into energy, and in the lab it acts as an antioxidant (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
In Synaptril, it is the second line of the blend. That means it weighs less than the magnesium glycinate and more than butcher's broom. The label gives no amount for it.
Not the same as ALA in omega-3 talk
Fish oil articles also use "ALA" for alpha-linolenic acid, a plant omega-3 fat. That is a different compound. The Synaptril label spells out alpha lipoic acid.
| Name on the label | Alpha Lipoic Acid |
|---|---|
| What it is | A sulfur compound the body makes; an antioxidant |
| Place on the label | Line 2 of 6 in the 575 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | Not printed; line 2 of 6 in the 575 mg blend. Label order caps it at 288 mg; after the magnesium glycinate it is likely no more than about 175 mg (estimate) |
| Amount used in research | 600 mg a day in small Alzheimer's studies |
| Strength of evidence | Too limited to judge for memory |
| Marketed or traditional use | Antioxidant |
| Main caution | May lower blood sugar, especially with diabetes medicines; a rare autoimmune low blood sugar has been reported. |
Evidence02
Does alpha lipoic acid help memory?
No one knows yet. The human studies are few and small, and the Linus Pauling Institute calls the evidence too limited to say whether it helps (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
Most of the work was in people who already had Alzheimer's disease, often on standard drugs at the same time. None tested healthy adults, and none tested Synaptril.
| Study | Dose | What it showed |
|---|---|---|
| Open study, 9 Alzheimer's patients | 600 mg a day | No control group, so no firm answer (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) |
| Follow-up, 43 patients | 600 mg a day with standard drugs | Still no control group (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) |
| Randomized, 39 patients | Fish oil with or without 600 mg | Small; larger trials needed (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) |
| Randomized, HIV-related memory problems | 1,200 mg a day, 10 weeks | No benefit (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) |
| Antioxidant combination with CoQ, vitamins C and E | Mixed product | No protection against Alzheimer's (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid) |
Dose03
How much alpha-lipoic acid is in one Synaptril capsule?
The label does not say. As line 2 of a 575 mg blend, it can weigh at most 288 mg, which is half the blend.
The real figure is likely lower. Magnesium glycinate probably takes about 400-570 mg. That leaves about 175 mg or less for five lines. So ALA is likely under about 175 mg, at best about 29% of the 600 mg studied.
Blood sugar04
Can alpha-lipoic acid lower blood sugar?
Yes, it may. ALA can push blood sugar down, and the effect adds to insulin and diabetes pills (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). If you treat diabetes, talk to your doctor before starting Synaptril.
A rarer problem is insulin autoimmune syndrome. In some people with a certain genetic makeup, ALA has set off attacks of low blood sugar. About 27 cases are on record, mostly in Japan (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
Ask your doctor first, and check your sugar more often in the first weeks. Shakiness, sweating, confusion or a racing heart can mean low blood sugar. Keep taking prescribed medicine.
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See packsSide effects05
What side effects can alpha-lipoic acid cause?
The reported side effects are mostly mild. Nausea, upset stomach and skin rash lead the list (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid).
Studies that found these effects mostly used several hundred milligrams a day or more. A capsule likely holds less, though the label does not confirm it.
- Nausea, vomiting or indigestion
- Skin rash or itching
- Low blood sugar, mainly with diabetes medicine
- Rare severe allergy, reported after IV use in clinics
More on reactions and when to stop is on Synaptril side effects.
Timing06
Should alpha-lipoic acid be taken with food?
Food lowers how much ALA reaches the blood. Peak levels were about 30% lower with a meal, so the Linus Pauling Institute suggests taking ALA about 30 minutes before eating (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid).
The Synaptril label sets no food rule. It says one capsule a day. With an unknown amount, a time you keep matters more than a peak level.
Bottom line07
Is the alpha-lipoic acid in Synaptril worth it?
It is a small, unproven part of the capsule. The amount is hidden, likely below the studied dose, and the memory studies were too small to count.
If you take medicines, the blood sugar effect deserves more attention than any memory hope. Read brain supplements and medications, and compare all six lines on the Synaptril ingredients page.
FAQ08
Alpha-lipoic acid questions people search
How much alpha-lipoic acid was used in memory studies?
Most used 600 mg a day, in people who already had Alzheimer's disease. Many also took standard drugs. One trial in HIV-related memory problems used 1,200 mg a day for 10 weeks and found no benefit (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). None of these studies tested a capsule like Synaptril.
Is the alpha-lipoic acid in Synaptril close to 600 mg?
No. As line 2 of a 575 mg blend, it cannot top 288 mg, and after the magnesium glycinate it is likely under about 175 mg. That is less than a third of the 600 mg used in the small Alzheimer's studies. The real amount is not printed.
Can I take alpha-lipoic acid with metformin or insulin?
Ask your doctor first. Alpha-lipoic acid may lower blood sugar, and with insulin or diabetes pills the drop can add up (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). Your doctor may suggest checking your glucose more often for a while. Do not change your diabetes dose on your own.
What is insulin autoimmune syndrome from alpha-lipoic acid?
It is a rare condition in which the body attacks its own insulin, causing bouts of low blood sugar. MSKCC notes about 27 cases tied to alpha-lipoic acid. Most were in Japan, in people with a genetic risk (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid). Repeated low sugar spells need prompt medical care.
Does alpha-lipoic acid upset the stomach?
It can. Nausea, vomiting and indigestion are among the most reported side effects, mostly at doses of several hundred milligrams (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid). If your stomach hurts after starting Synaptril, stop the capsules. Then mention it to your doctor or pharmacist.
Should I take alpha-lipoic acid on an empty stomach?
Food lowers its peak blood level by about 30%. So the Linus Pauling Institute suggests taking it before a meal (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). The Synaptril label gives no food rule, only one capsule a day. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before changing the timing of anything.
Can alpha-lipoic acid cause a rash?
Yes, skin rash and itching are reported side effects, and severe allergy has been seen rarely after IV use (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid). Stop the capsules if a rash appears. Swelling of the lips or throat, or trouble breathing, is an emergency, so call 911.
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 . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an American Synaptril authorized shop, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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