Comparison
Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs CJC-1295
Side-by-side of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and CJC-1295. 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.
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 peptide profile: GHRH analog forms (with-DAC ~7-day half-life, no-DAC Mod GRF 1-29 ~30 min), ipamorelin pairing, recovery use, dosing, side effects.
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
CJC-1295
- •GHRH analog that binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to release endogenous GH
- •DAC variant has ~7 day half-life via albumin binding; non-DAC variant ~30 minutes
- •Teichman 2006 trial showed sustained 2 to 10 fold IGF-1 elevation at 60 to 250 mcg/kg DAC dosing
- •Anecdotal protocols pair non-DAC CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin to mimic pulsatile GH release
- •Side effects: water retention, numbness or tingling at injection site, vivid dreams, transient flushing
- •No completed phase III RCTs; research-use-only and not FDA approved
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | CJC-1295 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | ALA, thioctic acid, R-ALA, R-lipoic acid | CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, tesamorelin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 168 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 0.1 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily on empty stomach | weekly (DAC); 1-3x daily (non-DAC) |
| Routes | oral, iv | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 3 |
| Molecular weight | 206.33 | 3367.83 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14O2S2 | C152H252N44O42 |
| 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. | Binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, stimulating pulsatile growth-hormone release. The DAC modification extends plasma residence by tethering the peptide to serum albumin via a maleimide-cysteine bond. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US, UK, Canada, most EU); prescription drug for diabetic neuropathy in Germany | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| 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 | 446262-90-4 |
| PubChem CID | 864 | 91971820 |
| Wikidata | Q161227 | Q5012154 |
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)
CJC-1295
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- water retention
- numbness or tingling at injection site
- vivid dreams
- transient flushing
- head pressure or mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- diabetic retinopathy (theoretical)
- history of pituitary tumor
Interactions
- Ipamorelin: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered in anecdotal protocols(minor)
- insulin: GH-induced insulin resistance can shift glycemic control over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH-axis response; reduce expected efficacy(moderate)
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. CJC-1295 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 post-training recovery, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick CJC-1295.
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 CJC-1295 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 CJC-1295?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and CJC-1295 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 CJC-1295?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid half-life is 0.5 hours; CJC-1295 half-life is 168 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid with CJC-1295?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper