ALA administered in the diet accumulates in tissues, and a substantial part is converted to DHLA via a lipoamide dehydrogenase
For example, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 49 subjects, those receiving 550 mg of Berbevis twice daily for two months showed significant improvements in blood lipids, blood sugar control, total fat mass (-6%), and abdominal (visceral) fat mass (-11%)
This is something that patients are generally doing on their own
Otherwise, they can be contaminated with toxins or other factors that are quite dangerous. Kennedy has publicly argued that making peptides available at compounding pharmacies again would make them safer, because these facilities are subject to some regulation (although nothing as stringent as the regulations regarding true FDA-approved drugs)
Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices