Researchers studying vitamins, dietary approaches and nutrients that may be implicated in the aging or degenerative disease process say that lipoic acid appears to be one of those with the most promise.

As people are living longer it is becoming more important to maintain comparatively good health and to keep degenerative disease at bay. The best ways to accomplish this, scientists say, have everything to do with diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle habits and nutrient intake.

At the moment, however, that's not the way things appear to be headed -diabetes is skyrocketing, about 50 percent of people over 65 have high blood pressure, heart disease is more prevalent, and almost half of the elderly people in the Western world have malnutrition that is easily preventable.

No single thing can combat all of these issues but the role of lipoic acid is becoming increasingly important.

Lipoic acid is a sulphur containing fatty acid, which is found in every cell in the body, where it helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning.
It is a key part of the metabolic process that turns blood glucose into energy for the body's needs.
It also has anti-oxidant properties, which enable it to neutralise free radicals. Unlike other anti-oxidants it can work in both water and fat giving it a broad spectrum of anti-oxidant activity.

In animal experiments it appears to slow down the process of aging, improve blood flow, increase immune function and perform many other beneficial functions.

The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defences of the body, including some that naturally decline with age and it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases.

The body can make small amounts if lipoic acid and it is found in some foods such as meat, spinach and broccoli, but the only way to get large amounts is to take a supplement.

Several medical conditions, particularly diabetes and atherosclerosis, are accompanied by low levels of lipoic acid,

Lipoic acid has been widely used for decades in Germany to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This is a condition caused by diabetes in which nerves leading to the arms and legs become damaged, resulting in numbness, pain, and other symptoms.

Though evidence has been accumulating, research on lipoic acid is still in its early stages. It may some day be seen as an important supplement.

It is safe to take and no significant side effects have been noted.

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