Ingredient 5 of 6
Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Black Sugar Protect: What Studies Actually Found
Black Sugar Protect lists alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) with no amount. Oral trials used 600 mg a day or more, and a 2019 review of 10 studies found ALA no better than placebo for blood sugar. High doses can cause low blood sugar symptoms and may add to diabetes medicines, so ask your clinician first.
Written by the Black Sugar Protect editorial teamUpdated
On the label
How much alpha-lipoic acid is in Black Sugar Protect?
The amount is not disclosed. The brand's ingredient graphic shows "Alpha-Lipoic Acid" as the fifth of six names, beside a stock photo of an oil bottle and softgels, with no milligram figure (Black Sugar Protect sales page).
The photo does not show the product. Black Sugar Protect's own bottle photos show a 1 fl oz dropper bottle, while the sales text says "capsule." A paid, brand-supplied press release lists ALA and says amounts are not publicly disclosed (Newswire, sponsored).
| Label name | "Alpha-Lipoic Acid" (brand graphic) |
|---|---|
| What it is | A fatty acid compound the body makes in small amounts |
| Type | Antioxidant compound |
| Position on the label | 5 of 6 on the brand's ingredient graphic |
| Amount per serving | amount not disclosed |
| What research shows | Oral trials used 600 mg or more a day; a 2019 review found it no better than placebo for blood sugar |
| Strength of evidence | Weak for blood sugar |
| Why it is in the formula (brand view) | Marketed for insulin sensitivity and nerve comfort |
| Main caution | High doses can cause low blood sugar symptoms and may add to diabetes medicines. Rarely linked to an autoimmune low blood sugar syndrome. |
The compound
What is alpha-lipoic acid?
Alpha-lipoic acid is a fatty acid compound the body makes in small amounts. It is sold as an antioxidant. As a supplement, it is marketed for insulin sensitivity and for nerve comfort in diabetes.
Some of the best-known studies looked at diabetic nerve pain, where ALA was given into a vein in some trials and by mouth in others (AFP 2016, ALA neuropathy). Those two routes gave very different results.
Evidence
Does alpha-lipoic acid lower blood sugar?
Not reliably. A 2019 review of 10 studies found alpha-lipoic acid no better than placebo for blood sugar (NCCIH, Diabetes and supplements). MSK describes the results for insulin sensitivity as mixed, with confirming studies still needed (MSK, Alpha-lipoic acid).
| How it was given | Dose and length | What was found |
|---|---|---|
| Into a vein (IV) | 600 mg a day for 3 weeks | Nerve pain symptoms fell compared with placebo |
| By mouth | 600 mg or more a day for 3 to 5 weeks | Minimal change that was not clinically significant |
| By mouth, blood sugar | Varied (10 studies) | No better than placebo |
| Long-term use | Not studied | No evidence either way |
| Black Sugar Protect | Not published | No trial |
A supplement is taken by mouth, so the oral rows are the ones that apply. The sales page makes disease claims we do not repeat; we explain why on the sales claims checked page.
Dose check
What ALA dose did research use, compared with Black Sugar Protect?
Research amounts for all six ingredients, beside the product's undisclosed ones.
- Berberine250-500 mg two or three times daily (usual herbal dose) (LiverTox, Berberine)?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
- Alpha-lipoic acid600 mg or more a day in oral trials, with no clinically meaningful benefit (AFP 2016, ALA neuropathy)?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
- Ceylon cinnamon120 mg to 6 g a day in trials (Allen et al. 2013)?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
- Magnesium350 mg a day: the upper limit for supplements, a ceiling, not a target (NIH ODS, Magnesium)?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
- Chromium25-35 mcg a day: what adults need, mostly from food (NIH ODS, Chromium)?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
- Licorice rootNo blood sugar dose studied; glycyrrhizin harms are dose related (MSK, Licorice)No blood sugar dose studied?Black Sugar Protect: not disclosed
Research amounts are reference points from NIH, LiverTox and trial reviews, not proof that any dose works. A 1 fl oz bottle sold as a 30-day supply leaves about 1 mL a day if both figures are right; whether that can hold gram-level berberine or cinnamon doses is an open question until the label is published.
Oral ALA trials used 600 mg a day or more and still found no clinically meaningful benefit (AFP 2016, ALA neuropathy). With a 1 fl oz bottle sold as a 30-day supply, it is fair to ask how a dose that size would fit. The label on your bottle is the only place that can answer.
Safety
Can alpha-lipoic acid cause low blood sugar?
Yes, at high doses. MSK reports that large amounts can cause low blood sugar symptoms and may add to the effect of diabetes medicines (MSK, Alpha-lipoic acid).
Stacking effects
Insulin and sulfonylureas already carry a risk of lows (NIDDK, Hypoglycemia). ALA, berberine and chromium in the same formula may each add to that. Ask before you combine them.
Insulin autoimmune syndrome
ALA may trigger an autoimmune form of low blood sugar in people with a certain genetic makeup. About 27 cases are reported, mostly in Japan (MSK, Alpha-lipoic acid).
A reading below 70 mg/dL with shakiness, sweating, hunger or confusion needs treatment right away (NIDDK, Hypoglycemia). Keep taking your diabetes medicines as prescribed.
Before your first dose
What should you check before taking ALA in Black Sugar Protect?
Four steps, in order. Scroll to follow them.
- 01
Find the ALA line
On the bottle you receive, look for alpha-lipoic acid with a milligram figure, or a blend total that includes it.
- 02
Compare with research
Oral trials used 600 mg a day or more. A much smaller amount is unlikely to match what was studied.
- 03
Bring your medicine list
ALA may add to insulin and diabetes pills. Show the bottle and your list to your clinician before the first dose.
- 04
Watch your readings
Keep your usual glucose checks. Readings below 70 mg/dL with shakiness or confusion need treatment right away.
General directions for the product are on the how to use page.
Brand graphic
Does the Black Sugar Protect listing show the ALA amount?
No. The brand's "Inside Black Sugar Protect" graphic has a tile labeled Supplement Facts, but it shows no figures. It names no ingredients at all.
So the ALA amount, like the other five, waits on the physical label. Our label check lists every line to look for.
Other ingredients
Explore the other Black Sugar Protect ingredients
FAQ
Alpha-lipoic acid in Black Sugar Protect: common questions
How much alpha-lipoic acid is in Black Sugar Protect?
The amount is not disclosed on the sales page, the brand graphics or any photo. For reference only, oral trials used 600 mg a day or more. Read the alpha-lipoic acid line on the bottle you receive and compare it with that figure.
Does alpha-lipoic acid help with blood sugar?
The evidence says no clear benefit. A 2019 review of 10 studies found alpha-lipoic acid no better than placebo for blood sugar, and MSK calls the insulin sensitivity results mixed. No trial has tested Black Sugar Protect itself.
Is alpha-lipoic acid safe for diabetics?
It can be risky alongside diabetes medicines. High doses can cause low blood sugar symptoms and may add to insulin or diabetes pills. Talk to your clinician before starting it, and keep your usual glucose checks.
Does oral alpha-lipoic acid work for nerve pain?
Oral doses of 600 mg or more for three to five weeks gave only minimal improvement that was not clinically significant. Into-the-vein treatment worked better in studies, but that is not how a supplement is taken.
What is insulin autoimmune syndrome from alpha-lipoic acid?
It is a rare condition where the immune system causes episodes of low blood sugar. MSK reports about 27 cases linked to alpha-lipoic acid, mostly in Japan, in people with a genetic tendency. Repeated unexplained lows need prompt medical review.
Is alpha-lipoic acid in Black Sugar Protect a softgel?
The form is not confirmed. The ingredient graphic shows a stock photo of softgels and an oil bottle, the sales text says capsule, and the bottle photos show a 1 fl oz dropper. Check the form printed on your bottle.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle photos, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Blacksugarprotects, a USA Authorized Black Sugar Protect Retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Black Sugar Protect
Alpha-lipoic acid and blood sugar
Alpha-lipoic acid for blood sugar and nerve pain: what IV and oral trials showed, and the risks with diabetes medicines.
Read more
Chromium
Adults need only 25 to 35 mcg a day. Trials show slight effects, and the amount in Black Sugar Protect is not disclosed.
Read moreHow to use
Directions are not published online. What to read on the bottle, how to measure, and what to do in week one.
Read moreUSA Authorized Black Sugar Protect Retailer
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