Loy BD, Fling BW, Horak FB, Bourdette DN, Spain RI.Complement Ther Med. 2018;41:169-174.Effects of lipoic acid on walking performance, gait, and balance in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND: Gait and balance impairment is common in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Lipoic acid (LA), an over-the-counter antioxidant, is effective in MS animal models and may improve walking speed, but effects on mobility are unreported.
OBJECTIVE: Examine the effects of 1200 mg daily oral dose of LA versus placebo (PLA) on gait and balance in a 2-year, randomized, double-blind pilot study.
METHODS:134 participants were screened for eligibility before assignment to LA (n = 28) or PLA (n = 26). Included here were, 21 participants with SPMS who took LA (N = 11) or PLA (N = 10) capsules for 2 years (enrolled May 2, 2011 - August 14, 2015) and completed all tasks without the use of an assistive device. Participants completed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and quiet standing tasks every 6 months while wearing inertial sensors (APDM Opals) to quantify mobility.
RESULTS: LA had a medium effect on time to complete TUG at 2 years (g = 0.51; 95% CI = -0.35, 1.38). In a subset of 18 participants with less disability (EDSS < 6, no use of ambulatory device), turning time was significantly shorter with LA (p = 0.048, Δ= 0.48 s). No differences in balance metrics were found between groups.
CONCLUSIONS: LA had an effect on walking performance in people with SPMS, particularly in those with lower baseline disability.
So a small study of lipoic acid. For the trial the primary outcome stated on clinical trial.gov is brain atrophy with 25 foot walk as a secondary. Not sure why this study report is so limited as the results were posted and published in 2017.
Change in brain atrophy on Lipoic acid was -0.4 + 0.7 verses -1.3 + 1.1 and change in 25 foot walk effect was 1 second less (-1.0 +2.8s) compared to 0.1 + 20 worsening.
Spain R, Powers K, Murchison C, Heriza E, Winges K, Yadav V, Cameron M, Kim E, Horak F, Simon J, Bourdette D. Lipoic acid in secondary progressive MS: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2017 Jun 28;4(5):e374.