Gilron I, Robb S, Tu D, et al. - In this single-center, proof-of-concept, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, researchers evaluated alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Of 27 recruited participants, 24 completed both treatment periods of the trial. In this trial, the median maximal tolerated dose of ALA was 1,663 mg/day. ALA was correlated with infrequent treatment-emergent adverse events which were not statistically different from placebo. No statistically significant differences were observed between placebo and ALA for the primary outcome of pain intensity, and for several other validated secondary outcomes. The results of this trial provided no evidence suggesting promise for ALA as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia, which is mainly prevalent in women. This negative clinical trial represents an important step in a collective strategy to identify new, better tolerated and more effective treatments for fibromyalgia.