Researchers are studying many antioxidants, including alpha-lipoic acid, for their potential roles in relieving symptoms associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Alpha-lipoic acid, or lipoic acid, is a natural compound produced by human and animal cells, especially in the liver. It’s found in foods such as spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes. This fatty acid is also available as a supplement.

Medical experts do not yet fully understand the exact causes of MS. Scientists are exploring alternative treatments that may benefit people living with MS.

This article explains what you need to know about alpha-lipoic acid, its potential benefits for people living with MS, its downsides, and more.

MS is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating condition. Lipoic acid has anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to support the management of conditions associated with nerve-related pain, including MS.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of lipoic acid make it a promising alternative therapy for the management of neurodegenerative conditions. Antioxidants prevent nerve and cell damage, while anti-inflammatories prevent an overactive immune system or immune-mediated damage.

Here are some ways lipoic acid may affect MS.

1. Has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Several laboratory, animal, and human studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of lipoic acid for MS.

For instance, a 2021 review of two animal studies found that animals treated with lipoic acid showed less nerve damage than a control group. Higher doses and administration via injections were the most protective.

A 2018 study among animals with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis — the animal equivalent of MS — also suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects of lipoic acid make it a promising treatment for MS.

Additionally, 2021 cell based research suggests that lipoic acid inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines from MS-associated cells found in the brain.

2. May reduce chronic pain

The loss of the myelin sheath and the inflammation of damaged nerve cells in people living with MS trigger chronic neuropathic (nerve-related) pain.

However, lipoic acid’s ability to slow the death of nerve cells, as demonstrated in cell and animal research, may mean that it can help treat the chronic neuropathic pain that MS causes, though more research is necessary.

In a small 2018 study of 72 people, participants reported reduced pain after taking 600 milligram (mg) of lipoic acid by mouth each day for 40 days.

3. May improve walking ability

MS can impair people’s ability to walk.

A 2-year experimental randomized controlled trial with 134 participants found that daily supplementation with 1,200 mg of lipoic acid had a positive effect on the walking ability of people with progressive MS. Progressive MS is a type of the condition that gets worse over time).

Similarly, a 2022 systematic review of 12 human trials found that participants showed improvements in walking performance and experienced minimal or no side effects when taking lipoic acid as an oral supplement.

Learn more about the possible benefits of alpha-lipoic acid.

To date, most of the research on the potential role of lipoic acid in the management of MS has been focused on cell and animal research.

Although the results of human trials have been promising so far, more research is necessary to determine whether lipoic acid can become an approved alternative therapy for MS.

Remember: Some supplements can have harmful side effects, especially if you’re taking other medications or living with a health condition.

It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before taking alpha-lipoic acid — or any other compound, herb, or supplement — to manage MS. They can confirm whether it’s safe and determine the right dose.

What triggers the onset of multiple sclerosis?

The etiology, or exact trigger, for the development of multiple sclerosis remains unknown. However, some research suggests that the accumulation of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and the presence of excess free radicals may contribute to the damage and degradation of nerve cells in the brain and spine.

Nerve damage to regions of the central nervous system is responsible for the progressive disability that MS causes.

How much alpha-lipoic acid should I take for MS?

Human clinical trials using 1,200 mg of lipoic acid daily for periods ranging from 48 hours to 2 years have shown positive effects at the cellular level, as well as improved symptoms in people living with MS.

However, despite these promising preliminary findings, lipoic acid is not currently approved as a therapy for MS. Research on its effectiveness for MS in humans is ongoing.

Please consult with an experienced healthcare professional before taking any supplement or using any alternative therapy to manage your MS.

Does alpha-lipoic acid repair nerve damage?

Lipoic acid has not been found to repair nerve damage. However, it may slow the progression of further nerve damage by inhibiting the migration of inflammatory cytokines that damage nerves and by slowing cell death of nerves in the brain and spine.

Lipoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid, is one alternative therapy that researchers have studied for managing multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. It is present in some foods and also available in supplement form.

Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may reduce multiple sclerosis symptoms in some people with MS.

However, it is not yet approved as a treatment for MS, and there isn’t a standard recommended dosage. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before supplementing with alpha-lipoic acid or any other compound.