I've been saying for quite some time that taking a little bit of flax oil with each dose of ALA most definitely increases the penetration of the ALA.
Remember, ALA is somewhat unique in that it is both fat and water soluble. Water-soluble nutrients tend to be eliminated fairly quickly through the urine. Fat soluble nutrients stay in the body longer,
also, the brain tissue is made mostly up of nerve and fat fibers, which are not penetrable by water soluble nutrients. You must have fat soluble nutrients to get into the brain. That is why ALA is a more effective brain chelator when it is dissolved in fat and/or oil