Alpha-Lipoic Acid vs NAD+
Side-by-side comparison of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and NAD+: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
NAD+
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid or 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid, is a sulfur-containing eight-carbon fatty acid derivative synthesized endogenously in mitochondria by lipoic acid synthase (LIAS).…
No vendor price on file.
Full Alpha-Lipoic Acid profileNAD+
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form) is a pyridine dinucleotide coenzyme essential to energy metabolism, DNA repair via PARP enzymes, sirtuin-mediated gene regulation, and calcium signaling via CD38.…
Lowest listed price: $25.00 across 11 listings
Full NAD+ profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Alpha-Lipoic Acid | NAD+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Foundational | Longevity |
| Research Stage | Dietary Supplement (Food Ingredient) | Phase II |
| Mechanism of Action | Alpha-lipoic acid has two distinct biological identities. The endogenous pool — synthesized by mitochondrial lipoic acid synthase (LIAS) and covalently attached to specific lysine residues on dehydrogenase complex subunits — is catalytically essential and not… | Redox Cofactor Function NAD+ serves as the primary electron acceptor in catabolic reactions (glycolysis, TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation), cycling between its oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms. This fundamental energy metabolism role means every cell… |
| Half-Life | — | Varies by form: NR ~8 hours plasma; NMN ~1-2 hours plasma; IV NAD+ infusion dose-dependent |
| Typical Dose Range | — | Oral precursors: NR 300-2,000 mg/day, NMN 250-900 mg/day, NAM 500-1,500 mg/day; IV NAD+ 500-1,500 mg per session. |
| Dosing Frequency | — | Oral precursors once daily (higher doses split AM/midday); IV NAD+ weekly-to-monthly at clinics. |
| Administration | — | Oral (precursors), Intravenous, Intramuscular, Subcutaneous |
| Side Effects | Alpha-lipoic acid is generally well-tolerated at standard doses (300-600 mg/day), but the side-effect profile is not completely benign and deserves attention particularly for long-term high-dose use and for users with specific comorbidities. GASTROINTESTINAL.… | Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) NR has the best-characterized safety profile of the NAD+ precursors. Across published RCTs at 1,000-2,000 mg/day for up to 12 weeks, adverse effects have been mild and uncommon: - Gastrointestinal upset (5-10% of users) - Mild… |
| Molecular Weight | — | 663.4 g/mol (NAD+); NR 255.3 g/mol; NMN 334.2 g/mol; NAM 122.1 g/mol |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 100mg, 250mg, 500mg |
Price History
4 data points- OF
- BM
- Half Nattys
- Ion Peptide
- BHG Labs
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: potential benefits
- No structured benefit list published.
NAD+: potential benefits
- Restores age-associated NAD+ decline — 50% loss between young and older adulthood
- Whole-blood NAD+ up 22, 51 and 142 percent at 100, 300 and 1,000 mg NR a day in an 8-week trial (Conze 2019, PMID: 31278280)
- Supports sirtuin-mediated gene regulation and PARP-mediated DNA repair
- Improves muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic postmenopausal women (Yoshino 2021)
- Increases aerobic performance in amateur runners at 300-600 mg NMN (Liao 2021)
- IL-6, IL-5 and IL-2 lower than baseline after 21 days of NR in 12 older men (PMID: 31412242)
- Brain NAD+ elevation demonstrated in Parkinson trial (Brakedal 2022)
- Excellent safety profile at evidence-supported doses (500-2000 mg/day NR)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Alpha-Lipoic Acid and NAD+?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid is a foundational that alpha-lipoic acid has two distinct biological identities. the endogenous pool — synthesized by mitochondrial lipoic acid synthase (lias) and covalently attached to specific lysine…. NAD+ is a longevity that redox cofactor function nad+ serves as the primary electron acceptor in catabolic reactions (glycolysis, tca cycle, fatty acid oxidation), cycling between its oxidized (nad+) and…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (not reported vs Varies by form: NR ~8 hours plasma; NMN ~1-2 hours plasma; IV NAD+ infusion dose-dependent), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Alpha-Lipoic Acid or NAD+?
Alpha-Lipoic Acid has a half-life of not reported. NAD+ has a half-life of Varies by form: NR ~8 hours plasma; NMN ~1-2 hours plasma; IV NAD+ infusion dose-dependent. Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Can you stack Alpha-Lipoic Acid and NAD+?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Alpha-Lipoic Acid and NAD+ should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy Alpha-Lipoic Acid or NAD+
Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor.
Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.