Antioxidant: ALA acts as an antioxidant through free radical scavenging in vitro.^{3; 4} However, since ALA only transiently accumulates in tissues in vivo, the significance of direct free radical scavenging activity by ALA in vivo is questionable.⁵ It is more likely that ALA acts as an indirect antioxidant in vivo that induces or maintains endogenous antioxidant levels.⁵ ALA can increase glutathione levels within cells.^{6; 7} ALA can also regenerate reduced vitamin C and vitamin E from their respective oxidized vitamin forms. A pro-oxidant effect of ALA has also been described in experimental studies when relatively high concentrations of ALA are achieved. However, this pro-oxidant effect is believed to occur at levels typically higher than those observed in human studies using oral or intravenous infusion of ALA.⁸

Diabetic control: Studies that investigated the effects of ALA on diabetes control related to its role in inhibiting glycation reactions and the antioxidant mechanisms of action.

Weight loss: ALA may promote body weight and fat mass reduction via decreasing food intake and enhancing energy expenditure, possibly via suppression of hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity.^{9; 10}