Thioctic acid 50mg capsules
Available from pharmacies, supermarkets, and retail outlets
A vitamin-like antioxidant.
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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1 branded products available
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
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Supply & safety information
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Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 34 · Randomised trials: 9 · 1995–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
L. Shinto, J. Quinn, T. Montine, et al.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2013
Ashley Solmonson, R. Deberardinis
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2017
B. Salehi, Yakup Berkay Yılmaz, Gizem Antika, et al.
Biomolecules, 2019
D. Tibullo, G. Li Volti, C. Giallongo, et al.
Inflammation Research, 2017
Caren Nádia Soares Sousa, Cláudio Manuel Gonçalves Silva Leite, Ingridy Silva Medeiros, et al.
Metabolic Brain Disease, 2018
Ciubotaru A, Grosu C, Alexa D, et al.
2026
- Diabetic Neuropathies
- Thioctic Acid
- Thiamine
BackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects up to 50% of diabetes patients and is driven by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, polyol pathway activation, advanced glycation end-product formation, and inflammation. Current management is largely symptomatic, prompting interest in metabolic/nutritional therapies. This review critically evaluates the mechanistic rationale and clinical evidence for alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and benfotiamine as adjunctive treatments for DPN.MethodsA structured narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE was conducted using predefined keywords for DPN, oxidative stress, metabolic therapy, and thiamine derivatives. Randomized controlled trials, clinical studies, systematic reviews, and relevant experimental studies were included. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively with emphasis on mechanistic plausibility, clinical efficacy, intervention duration, and methodological rigor.ResultsALA consistently improves short-term symptoms across multiple randomized trials. The long-term NATHAN 1 trial reported a marginal, borderline significant effect on the primary composite endpoint (NIS-LL, p = 0.05) without significant improvements in nerve conduction studies; therefore, evidence for functional stabilization is very limited and inconclusive. ALA's effects are attributed to antioxidant activity, mitochondrial protection, and improved microvascular function. Benfotiamine has a strong biochemical rationale (transketolase activation, diversion of glycolytic intermediates from damaging pathways), but clinical evidence remains limited to short-duration, symptom-based studies, with no large-scale, long-term trials published.ConclusionsBoth agents target key pathways in DPN pathogenesis. ALA is the most established adjunctive metabolic therapy for symptomatic DPN, although no study has demonstrated structural nerve regeneration or a definitive disease-modifying effect. Benfotiamine is biologically plausible but requires further validation in long-term randomized trials with structural and biomarker-based endpoints. Outside of documented thiamine deficiency, its routine use cannot be recommended based on current evidence.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Li T, Liu H, Zeng J
2026
- Thioctic Acid
- Antioxidants
- Dietary Supplements
Salinas AV, Caroca TM, Santibáñez FP, et al.
2026
- Diabetic Neuropathies
- Inflammation
- Thioctic Acid
Yong Q, Zhang P, Xu Y, et al.
2026
- Diabetic Neuropathies
- Thioctic Acid
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Saeed TN, Al-Hussainy AF, Sanghvi G, et al.
2026
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Lipoic Acid is generally involved in oxidative decarboxylations of keto acids an…
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
5 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Known interactions with other medicines. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 142 interactions
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:29987032
Unable to catalyze the transfer of octanoyl from octanoyl-GCSH to PDCE2 .
PMID:29987032
In vitro, it is also able to catalyze the transfer of the lipoyl group from lipoyl-AMP to the specific lysine residue of lipoyl domains of lipoate-dependent enzymes but this reaction may not be physiologically relevant (Probable)
PMID:11939906 PMID:16373578 PMID:19540099 PMID:22942274 PMID:26859324 PMID:27226593 PMID:7592599 PMID:7947975 PMID:9261177
The cyclooxygenase activity oxygenates AA to the hydroperoxy endoperoxide prostaglandin G2 (PGG2), and the peroxidase activity reduces PGG2 to the hydroxy endoperoxide prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), the precursor of all 2-series prostaglandins and thromboxanes .
PMID:16373578 PMID:22942274 PMID:26859324 PMID:27226593 PMID:7592599 PMID:7947975 PMID:9261177
This complex transformation is initiated by abstraction of hydrogen at carbon 13 (with S-stereochemistry), followed by insertion of molecular O2 to form the endoperoxide bridge between carbon 9 and 11 that defines prostaglandins. The insertion of a second molecule of O2 (bis-oxygenase activity) yields a hydroperoxy group in PGG2 that is then reduced to PGH2 by two electrons .
PMID:16373578 PMID:22942274 PMID:26859324 PMID:27226593 PMID:7592599 PMID:7947975 PMID:9261177
Similarly catalyzes successive cyclooxygenation and peroxidation of dihomo-gamma-linoleate (DGLA, C20:3(n-6)) and eicosapentaenoate (EPA, C20:5(n-3)) to corresponding PGH1 and PGH3, the precursors of 1- and 3-series prostaglandins .
PMID:11939906 PMID:19540099
In an alternative pathway of prostanoid biosynthesis, converts 2-arachidonoyl lysophopholipids to prostanoid lysophopholipids, which are then hydrolyzed by intracellular phospholipases to release free prostanoids .
PMID:27642067
Metabolizes 2-arachidonoyl glycerol yielding the glyceryl ester of PGH2, a process that can contribute to pain response .
PMID:22942274
Generates lipid mediators from n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) via a lipoxygenase-type mechanism. Oxygenates PUFAs to hydroperoxy compounds and then reduces them to corresponding alcohols .
PMID:11034610 PMID:11192938 PMID:9048568 PMID:9261177
Plays a role in the generation of resolution phase interaction products (resolvins) during both sterile and infectious inflammation .
PMID:12391014
Metabolizes docosahexaenoate (DHA, C22:6(n-3)) to 17R-HDHA, a precursor of the D-series resolvins (RvDs) .
PMID:12391014
As a component of the biosynthetic pathway of E-series resolvins (RvEs), converts eicosapentaenoate (EPA, C20:5(n-3)) primarily to 18S-HEPE that is further metabolized by ALOX5 and LTA4H to generate 18S-RvE1 and 18S-RvE2 .
PMID:21206090
In vascular endothelial cells, converts docosapentaenoate (DPA, C22:5(n-3)) to 13R-HDPA, a precursor for 13-series resolvins (RvTs) shown to activate macrophage phagocytosis during bacterial infection .
PMID:26236990
In activated leukocytes, contributes to oxygenation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoates (HETE) to diHETES (5,15-diHETE and 5,11-diHETE) .
PMID:22068350 PMID:26282205
Can also use linoleate (LA, (9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoate, C18:2(n-6)) as substrate and produce hydroxyoctadecadienoates (HODEs) in a regio- and stereospecific manner, being (9R)-HODE ((9R)-hydroxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoate) and (13S)-HODE ((13S)-hydroxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoate) its major products (By similarity).
During neuroinflammation, plays a role in neuronal secretion of specialized preresolving mediators (SPMs) 15R-lipoxin A4 that regulates phagocytic microglia (By similarity)
PMID:10329687 PMID:15561972 PMID:19211916 PMID:20980265 PMID:21570947 PMID:22015582 PMID:25809983 PMID:25971966 PMID:27904971 PMID:28052864 PMID:31754459
Functions as a Na(+)-coupled substrate symporter where the stoichiometry of Na(+):substrate is 2:1, creating an electrochemical Na(+) gradient used as driving force for substrate uptake .
PMID:10329687 PMID:20980265
Required for biotin and pantothenate uptake in the intestine across the brush border membrane .
PMID:19211916
Plays a role in the maintenance of intestinal mucosa integrity, by providing the gut mucosa with biotin (By similarity). Contributes to the luminal uptake of biotin and pantothenate into the brain across the blood-brain barrier PMID:25809983
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC A16AX01
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Lipoic acid
Additional database identifiers
ChemSpider
5886
BindingDB
50106731
PDB
LPA
ZINC
ZINC000001544807
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:29569
GenAtlas
LIPT1
GeneCards
LIPT1
GenBank Gene Database
AB017566
GenBank Protein Database
4586380
UniProt Accession
LIPT_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:108
GenAtlas
ACHE
GeneCards
ACHE
GenBank Gene Database
M55040
GenBank Protein Database
177975
Guide to Pharmacology
2465
UniProt Accession
ACES_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9605
GenAtlas
PTGS2
GeneCards
PTGS2
GenBank Gene Database
L15326
GenBank Protein Database
291988
Guide to Pharmacology
1376
UniProt Accession
PGH2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11041
GenAtlas
SLC5A6
GeneCards
SLC5A6
GenBank Gene Database
AF116241
GenBank Protein Database
5006439
UniProt Accession
SC5A6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16429
GenAtlas
LIAS
GeneCards
LIAS
GenBank Gene Database
BC023635
GenBank Protein Database
23958222
UniProt Accession
LIAS_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9208
GenAtlas
POR
GeneCards
POR
GenBank Gene Database
S90469
GenBank Protein Database
247307
UniProt Accession
NCPR_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite:
- DrugBank 6.02024Recommended citationKnox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et alDrugBank 6.0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275
- DrugBank 5.02018Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank 5.0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082
- DrugBank 4.02014Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et alDrugBank 4.0: shedding new light on drug metabolismNucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7
- DrugBank 3.02011Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et alDrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugsNucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41
- DrugBank 2.02008Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.Nucleic Acids Research2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6
- DrugBank 1.02006Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et alDrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Nucleic Acids Research2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72