Comparison
Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs Selank
Side-by-side of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Selank. 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.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
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
Selank
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin developed in Russia in the 1990s
- •Approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and asthenic conditions
- •Russian RCTs report anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam without sedation or dependence
- •Modulates GABAergic and serotonergic signaling and BDNF expression in preclinical models
- •Most commonly administered intranasally; subcutaneous use is anecdotal
- •No Western-validated trials; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | ALA, thioctic acid, R-ALA, R-lipoic acid | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily on empty stomach | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral, iv | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 206.33 | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14O2S2 | C33H57N11O9 |
| 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. | Modulates GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signaling. Increases BDNF expression in hippocampal neurons in preclinical models. Modulates enkephalin levels and immune cytokine signaling via tuftsin-like activity. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US, UK, Canada, most EU); prescription drug for diabetic neuropathy in Germany | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; precautionary avoidance | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 62-46-4 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 864 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q161227 | Q4416793 |
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)
Selank
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation (intranasal)
- transient drowsiness (uncommon)
- mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe psychiatric disorder (insufficient data)
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive anxiolytic effect; potential for over-sedation when stacked(moderate)
- SSRIs: no documented adverse interaction; co-administration described in Russian protocols(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. Selank 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 focus or working memory, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
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 Selank 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 Selank?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Selank 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 Selank?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid half-life is 0.5 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid with Selank?
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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