Comparison
Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs AOD-9604
Side-by-side of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and AOD-9604. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid supplement guide: 600 mg/day oral dosing, R-ALA vs racemic absorption, neuropathy trial data, antioxidant mechanism, interactions.
AOD-9604
AOD 9604 peptide: 16-amino-acid hGH fragment 176-191. Preclinical lipolytic activity, phase 2 obesity trial showed no weight loss vs placebo.
Effects at a glance
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
- •Approved Rx for diabetic neuropathy in Germany at 600 mg/day IV (Thioctacid) since 1960s
- •Improves neuropathy symptoms (TSS, NIS) at 600 mg/day IV across ALADIN and SYDNEY trials
- •R-ALA enantiomer absorbs 40-100% better than racemic mixtures
- •Activates AMPK; produces small HbA1c reductions in T2DM
- •Plasma half-life ~30 minutes; split dosing or sustained-release is standard
- •Hypoglycemia risk with insulin or sulfonylureas; medication adjustment may be required
AOD-9604
- •Modified 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191)
- •Preclinical models show lipolytic activity in adipose tissue without GH-axis growth effects
- •Phase 2 obesity trial (Heffernan 2001) showed no significant weight-loss difference versus placebo
- •Anecdotal protocols use 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneously daily on an empty stomach
- •No FDA approval; the obesity drug development program was discontinued in 2007
- •Granted GRAS status in some jurisdictions for compounded use; not validated for fat loss in humans
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | AOD-9604 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | ALA, thioctic acid, R-ALA, R-lipoic acid | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 0.3 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily on empty stomach | daily |
| Routes | oral, iv | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 206.33 | 1815.17 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14O2S2 | C78H125N23O23S2 |
| Mechanism | Dual lipid- and water-soluble antioxidant; redox cycles with dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) to scavenge ROS, regenerate vitamin E and C, and chelate transition metals. Activates AMPK in liver and muscle; cofactor for pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes. | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone proposed to stimulate beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling in adipocytes, increasing lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation without engaging the GH receptor or activating IGF-1. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US, UK, Canada, most EU); prescription drug for diabetic neuropathy in Germany | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 62-46-4 | 221231-10-3 |
| PubChem CID | 864 | 71300630 |
| Wikidata | Q161227 | Q4654106 |
Safety profile
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Common side effects
- nausea
- abdominal discomfort
- diarrhea
- sulfurous odor
- rash (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient safety data)
- active insulin autoimmune syndrome predisposition
Interactions
- insulin and sulfonylureas: additive hypoglycemia; medication dose adjustment may be required(major)
- thyroid hormone: may reduce T4 to T3 conversion at high doses(moderate)
- biotin: ALA competes with biotin uptake; chronic use can induce biotin insufficiency(minor)
- iron supplements: ALA chelates iron and reduces absorption; separate dosing(moderate)
- chemotherapy (oxidative-stress-dependent agents): theoretical interference; coordinate with oncology team(moderate)
AOD-9604
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- transient mild headache (anecdotal)
- minimal in clinical trials
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- no established human safety profile for chronic use
Interactions
- beta-blockers: theoretical antagonism of beta-3 adrenergic lipolytic signaling(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. AOD-9604 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick AOD-9604.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Alpha-Lipoic Acid is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for AOD-9604 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Alpha-Lipoic Acid and AOD-9604?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and AOD-9604 differ in category (supplement vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-Lipoic Acid or AOD-9604?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid half-life is 0.5 hours; AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid with AOD-9604?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper