Here is an excerpt from AST about ALA:
I have seen where some creatine powders have ALA added to them to help creatine uptake. Does this work?
No! There's a big problem with this. You see, ALA is a very unstable chemical that will degrade rapidly if exposed to atmospheric conditions for even short periods of time. In fact, when we purchase our ALA is is delivered in special 2 kilogram vacuum packed packages that uses a UV protected plastic. This packaging shields the ALA from both air and light.
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.
This is why you should never use a creatine with the ALA already mixed in. This is exactly why we do not add ALA to any of our powders. To get the added benefits that ALA has on creatine uptake you should take the ALA in capsule form along with your creatine. The capsule will protect the ALA from outside elements and ensure that you are getting the full potency.