Question explored with the scientific record
Conversation so far
- 1 FOR CREATINE absorption is a shake ok? what's best?
- 2 what is an everyday source of alpha-lipoic acid
- 3 how can i make a alpha-lipoic acid plus creatine drink
Answered on this page ↓
how can i make a alpha-lipoic acid plus creatine drink
The short version: you can mix alpha-lipoic acid and creatine in a drink, but the evidence for any benefit from combining them is absent, and the practical problems are real.
The evidence here covers alpha-lipoic acid and creatine separately, never together. Alpha-lipoic acid is poorly absorbed: only 30-40% of an oral dose reaches the blood, and taking it with food cuts the peak by about 30% [8]. Creatine causes gastrointestinal distress at loading doses, with diarrhea reported in 28-56% of athletes depending on dose [15]. Combining two substances that each upset the gut and compete for absorption is a recipe for poor tolerability, not synergy.
The hypothesis that alpha-lipoic acid improves creatine absorption has no support in this retrieval. No study tested it. The closest evidence is that alpha-lipoic acid interacts with other drugs [8] and that creatine absorption is improved by carbohydrates and insulin, not by antioxidants. You would be better off taking creatine with a simple carbohydrate drink and alpha-lipoic acid on an empty stomach at a separate time of day.
My call: the hypothesis is unsupported. Do not combine them in one drink. Confidence: moderate, based on the absence of any combination study and the known GI side effects of both compounds [8, 15].
Sources used 21
-
Caffeine increases exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during exercise
This study investigates the effect of caffeine on exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during prolonged exercise, finding that caffeine coingested with glucose significantly increases carbohydrate oxidation rates compared to glucose alone.
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00170.2005 -
Inhibition of adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation by alpha-lipoic acid and dihydroquercetin in vitro
This study investigates the antiplatelet activity of alpha-lipoic acid and dihydroquercetin, demonstrating that both compounds inhibit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate in a concentration-dependent manner, with alpha-lipoic acid showing more pronounced effect…
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.135958 -
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of alpha-lipoic acid in experimentally induced acute otitis media
Alpha-lipoic acid reduces inflammation and oxidative tissue damage in an experimental guinea pig model of acute otitis media, with the combination of alpha-lipoic acid and penicillin G providing the strongest protective effects on epithelial integrity, histology, and oxidative s…
DOI: 10.1017/S0022215116001183 -
Role of alpha-lipoic acid in ameliorating Cyclosporine A-induced pancreatic injury in albino rats: A structural, ultrastructural, and morphometric study
This study investigates the protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid against cyclosporine A-induced pancreatic injury in male albino rats, demonstrating that alpha-lipoic acid can ameliorate structural and ultrastructural changes in pancreatic cells caused by cyclosporine A treat…
DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2017.1286422 -
Reduction in maternal serum values of glucose and gamma‐glutamyltransferase after supplementation with alpha‐lipoic acid in women with gestational diabetes mellitus
In a randomized double-blind trial of 60 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, 8 weeks of 100 mg/day alpha-lipoic acid supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and liver enzymes, increased circulating alpha-lipoic acid, and lowered t…
DOI: 10.1111/jog.13842 -
Comparative evaluation of the electrophysiological, functional and ultrastructural effects of alpha lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin administration in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury
This study compares the neuroprotective and regenerative effects of alpha lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury, finding that while both treatments improve recovery, alpha lipoic acid is more effective functionally.
DOI: 10.3233/bmr-150386 -
Evaluation of protective effects of the alpha lipoic acid after spinal cord injury: An animal study
This study evaluates the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid on traumatic spinal cord injury in rats, finding that while it reduces lipid peroxidation levels, it does not significantly alter tissue necrosis or myeloperoxidation levels compared to methylprednisolone.
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2010.05.027 -
Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Are Involved in the Protective Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid Against Heat Damage in Chicken Testes
Alpha-lipoic acid mitigates heat-induced testicular injury in chickens by reducing oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, modulating apoptosis, and reactivating steroidogenic pathways to restore testosterone synthesis.
DOI: 10.3390/ani10030384 -
ALPHA LIPOIC LIPOIC ACID IN CLINICAL ACID IN CLINICAL APPLICA APPLICATION
Alpha-lipoic acid is a versatile antioxidant with dual solubility that enables broad clinical use as a preventive and therapeutic agent across metabolic, hepatic, neurovascular, infectious, and toxin-induced oxidative injuries, with established pharmacokinetics and safety consid…
DOI: 10.70949/pramed200901283v -
The protective effects of alpha lipoic acid on methotrexate induced testis injury in rats
This study investigates the protective effects of alpha lipoic acid on testicular injury induced by methotrexate in a rat model, demonstrating that ALA mitigates oxidative stress and tissue damage.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.078 -
Effect of alpha‐lipoic acid and myoinositol on endometrial inflammasome from recurrent pregnancy loss women
In idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss women, oral alpha-lipoic acid plus myoinositol (Sinopol) reduced endometrial NALP-3 inflammasome expression and activation, with alpha-lipoic acid alone showing the strongest effect, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, EL…
DOI: 10.1111/aji.13153 -
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Modulates GFAP, Vimentin, Nestin, Cyclin D1 and MAP-Kinase Espression in Astroglial Cell Cultures
This study investigates the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on the expression of key proteins involved in proliferation and differentiation in astroglial cell cultures, revealing significant modulation of GFAP, vimentin, nestin, cyclin D1, and MAP-kinase expression under various tr…
DOI: 10.1007/s11064-010-0256-6 -
Synergic prooxidant, apoptotic and TRPV1 channel activator effects of alpha-lipoic acid and cisplatin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells
This study investigates the synergistic effects of alpha-lipoic acid and cisplatin on apoptosis and oxidative stress in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, revealing that their combination enhances the pro-apoptotic and pro-oxidant effects through TRPV1 channel activation.
DOI: 10.1080/10799893.2017.1369121 -
Alpha-lipoic acid: Antioxidant potency against lipid peroxidation of neural tissues in vitro and implications for diabetic neuropathy
This study investigates the antioxidant effects of alpha-lipoic acid on lipid peroxidation in neural tissues, demonstrating its potential to reduce oxidative stress associated with diabetic neuropathy.
DOI: 10.1016/0891-5849(96)00172-4 -
Gastrointestinal Distress After Creatine Supplementation in Athletes: Are Side Effects Dose Dependent?
This study investigates the incidence of gastrointestinal distress among top-level male soccer players following two different creatine supplementation protocols, revealing that while overall GI distress was not significantly different from placebo, higher doses of creatine were…
DOI: 10.1080/15438620701693280 -
Effects of Combined Creatine and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Soccer-Specific Performance in Elite Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A 7-day randomized controlled trial in 20 elite soccer players found that combined creatine and sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly improved 30-m sprint and arrowhead agility performance compared to placebo, but had no significant effects on 10-m sprint, coordinatio…
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136919 -
Review of Side-Effect Profile of Combination Ezetimibe and Statin Therapy in Randomized Clinical Trials
This systematic review assesses the side-effect profile of combination ezetimibe and statin therapy in randomized clinical trials, finding no significant increase in adverse events compared to statin monotherapy across 18 trials involving 14,471 patients.
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.01.041 -
1H NMR-based metabolic profiling of naproxen-induced toxicity in rats
This study investigates the dose-dependent metabolic perturbations caused by naproxen-induced toxicity in rats using 1H NMR spectroscopy, revealing significant alterations in urinary metabolite concentrations associated with gastrointestinal damage.
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2010.09.020 -
Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation: Considerations for Cognitive Performance in Athletes
Creatine monohydrate supplementation may improve both physical and cognitive performance in athletes by augmenting brain and muscle phosphocreatine stores, though evidence for cognitive benefits during exercise is mixed and future high-intensity resistance training studies are n…
DOI: 10.1519/ssc.0000000000000369 -
Creatine Supplementation and Athletic Performance
A comprehensive review of creatine monohydrate supplementation and athletic performance, summarizing proposed mechanisms, dosing regimens, effects on lean mass and high‑intensity performance, variability in responsiveness, safety considerations, and gaps for future research.
DOI: 10.2519/JOSPT.2003.33.10.615 -
Does creatine supplementation promote changes in cognitive function in people with peripheral arterial disease? A randomized clinical trial
An 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed whether creatine monohydrate supplementation improves cognitive function (Stroop test performance) in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients, finding no significant benefit compared with placeb…
DOI: 10.4025/jphyseduc.v35i1.3536