El Amrousy D, et al. - Since alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant reported in several studies for weight reduction in animals and obese adults but no data are available in pediatrics, researchers investigated the possible beneficial effect of ALA in obese children. Eighty obese children and adolescents were randomized into two groups; the treatment group (n = 40) receiving 300 mg of ALA twice daily for 3 months and the control group (n = 40) receiving 3 months of placebo. The ALA treatment group had a significant decrease in weight, BMI, MDA, TNF-α, and leptin levels but a significant increase in adiponectin level compared with the control group. However, it did not have any effect on the fasting blood glucose or the lipid profile. Findings suggested that ALA can be a promising supplement for weight reduction in obese children and adolescents.