When formulating NOVOS Core, we looked closely into alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). Alpha lipoic acid is often promoted as an anti-aging substance.
There are studies demonstrating beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), mainly in rodents but also in humans. For example, ALA could perhaps reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (R), improve metabolic disease like diabetes (R) or reduce Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs).
However, for our ingredients, the "golden test" or "primary clinical endpoint" is longevity (does the molecule extend lifespan, ideally in different species?), and not whether the molecule improves one (small) aspect of aging, like AGEs, as some studies suggest alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) can improve.
Substances can have many different effects, some negative, some positive, so in the end what we want to know is whether a substance can extend lifespan or not.
We unfortunately didn't find sufficient, well-conducted studies in normal, healthy organisms demonstrating that ALA extends lifespan.
Furthermore, some studies show that ALA could actually shorten lifespan (R).
This makes sense. Alpha-lipoic acid is a strong antioxidant. ALA can perhaps reduce some damage that is happening during, for example, Alzheimer’s disease (like oxidative stress), but as an antioxidant it lowers the cell’s own antioxidant defense mechanisms, which might actually speed up the aging process.
That's why we added ALA to our list of substances one should not take for anti-aging, as we explain here:
https://novoslabs.com/9-anti-aging-supplements-you-dont-want-to-take/
However, we are always open to new insights. If new well-conducted studies appear demonstrating that ALA can extend lifespan in normal healthy animals, and preferable multiple species, we would be happy to reconsider this molecule.
Do note that NOVOS Core contains substances that can also reduce AGEs, like theanine and glycine, and that have shown to extend lifespan in multiple different species.