Research
Energy balance
Alpha-lipoic acid improves insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal in skeletal muscle by activating AMPK and reducing triglyceride accumulation.
For individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, ALA may help improve how muscles handle glucose and fats. This is achieved through activating AMPK, a key energy sensor in cells.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
When these rats are administered ALA, there is increased insulin stimulated whole body glucose disposal and also in skeletal muscle. ALA also increased fatty acid oxidation and stimulated AMPK in skeletal muscle.
Why this rating
Based on animal models (rats) and cell studies cited in the review.
Source
Diabetes and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Saeid Golbidi et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2011
DOI 10.3389/fphar.2011.00069
narrative_reviewCited 272×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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