Comparison
Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs Fisetin
Side-by-side of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Fisetin. 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.
Fisetin
Fisetin is a flavonoid found in strawberries with senolytic activity in mouse models. Hickson 2019 confirmed senescent-cell clearance in human adipose tissue.
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
Fisetin
- •Flavonoid found in strawberries; most potent natural senolytic in screening assays (Yousefzadeh 2018)
- •Hickson 2019 confirmed reduced senescent-cell burden in human adipose tissue at 20 mg/kg pulsed for 2 days
- •Pulsed Mayo protocol (20 mg/kg/day x 2 days monthly) is the only dose with human biomarker evidence
- •Daily low-dose (100-500 mg) is mechanistically weaker but commonly used
- •Low oral bioavailability; with-fat dosing modestly improves absorption
- •Active cancer is a relative contraindication pending clearer polyphenol-treatment data
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | Fisetin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | ALA, thioctic acid, R-ALA, R-lipoic acid | 3,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily on empty stomach | pulsed 2 days/month (Mayo protocol) or daily continuous (empirical) |
| Routes | oral, iv | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 206.33 | 286.24 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14O2S2 | C15H10O6 |
| 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. | Senolytic via Bcl-2 family inhibition (Bcl-xL, Bcl-w); broad polyphenol with Nrf2 activation, mTOR inhibition at high concentrations, and antioxidant effects. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US, UK, Canada, most EU); prescription drug for diabetic neuropathy in Germany | OTC dietary supplement |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | OTC supplement |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 62-46-4 | 528-48-3 |
| PubChem CID | 864 | 5281614 |
| Wikidata | Q161227 | Q230614 |
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)
Fisetin
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache (rare)
Contraindications
- active cancer (theoretical, polyphenol interactions)
- pregnancy and lactation (insufficient data)
- concurrent CYP3A4-sensitive medications
Interactions
- statins (CYP3A4 substrates): theoretical reduction in statin clearance at high fisetin doses(minor)
- warfarin: theoretical CYP-mediated interaction; monitor INR if combining(moderate)
- other senolytics (rapamycin, dasatinib + quercetin): additive senolytic effect; pairing is investigational(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. Fisetin 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 long-term neuroprotection, pick Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Fisetin.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Alpha-Lipoic Acid ~0.5 hr vs Fisetin ~2 hr). Fisetin reaches steady state faster; Alpha-Lipoic Acid is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Fisetin 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 Fisetin?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Fisetin differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-Lipoic Acid or Fisetin?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid half-life is 0.5 hours; Fisetin half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid with Fisetin?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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