Background: One of the widely abused anabolic-androgenic steroids worldwide is nandrolone decanoate (ND). Objectives: This work aimed to study whether alpha lipoic acid (ALA) treatment could modulate ND-induced renal dysfunction. Materials & methods: forty adult albino rats were divided into four groups. 1st group served as negative control; 2nd group received ALA (100 mg/kg orally by gastric gavage daily); 3rd group received ND in 28 mg/kg BW intra-peritoneal injection once weekly; 4th group received the dose of ND along with ALA (in the previous doses); all for eight weeks. Results: administration of nandrolone decanoate induced significant increase in serum urea and creatinine. Significant increase in lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α) together with significant reduction of the antioxidant Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and the anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL-4) in kidney tissues were also recorded. Histopathological evidence of renal tissue injury was detected. Co-administration of ALA along with ND ameliorated the effects mentioned above. Conclusion: According to this study, the administration of ALA can provide a protective role, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, against ND-induced renal toxicity.