Comparison
Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs DHEA
Side-by-side of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and DHEA. 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.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
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
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | DHEA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | hormone |
| Also known as | ALA, thioctic acid, R-ALA, R-lipoic acid | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 12 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 25 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily on empty stomach | daily, typically morning |
| Routes | oral, iv | oral, vaginal, topical |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 206.33 | 288.42 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14O2S2 | C19H28O2 |
| 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. | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US, UK, Canada, most EU); prescription drug for diabetic neuropathy in Germany | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Contraindicated in pregnancy |
| CAS | 62-46-4 | 53-43-0 |
| PubChem CID | 864 | 5881 |
| Wikidata | Q161227 | Q411733 |
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)
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and DHEA score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
- → If your priority is long-term neuroprotection, pick Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
Edge case: DHEA is contraindicated in pregnancy; Alpha-Lipoic Acid is the safer pick if that applies.
Default choice: either is defensible. Alpha-Lipoic Acid edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; DHEA is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed 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 DHEA?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and DHEA differ in category (supplement vs hormone), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-Lipoic Acid or DHEA?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid half-life is 0.5 hours; DHEA half-life is 12 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid with DHEA?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper