Okay, in English, ALA in capsule form is much better than loose ALA. For example, Sundown makes an ALA tablet--and after having used capsules for a very long time, I couldn't tell it was doing anything at all. Here's how I figured it out. I take lots of protein and maltodextrin after my workouts. I take 300 mg of ALA to boost cell infusion of carbohydrates. The effect is like adding to an already killer pump. Since insulin is required as a tag for sugar to enter cells, and ALA mimics insulin, the sugar is quickly taken into the cells and so your cells "fill up" more than if you didn't take the ALA.
After using sundown brand, I didn't have that effect for nearly a week. Then I went to my cabinet to see what I'd added, and noticed the ALA from sundown. I immediately ordered more from Jarrow and when I used it, the pump came back. I figure it had to do with sundown's tablets reacting with oxygen. No real science here, but I can tell a difference if I take a low quality brand.

It's almost comical how these companies formulate their products. They will
read in a magazine where ALA mimics insulin. The will read in another magazine
where spiking insulin helps increase creatine uptake. Ding! A light goes off in
their head. "We'll add ALA to our creatine and market the shit out of it." That
is the extent of the research investment many supplement companies adopt.
It's ridiculous.

If you add ALA to a creatine powder the ALA will degrade and become
ineffective in a matter of hours. As the ALA is dispersed in the powder it's
exposure to massive amounts of air, light, and moisture causes rapid
degradation. By the time you purchase the product, the ALA is useless.