Humans have long been in search of the fountain of youth. Even to this day and age, science keeps on looking for that magic pill, compound and anything else that will "stall aging".

Recent developments told us some of such compounds are unsafe and ineffective.

Still, I don't quite get it. We are all going to get old anyway. Why bother with some anti-aging compounds?

However, if our search for anti-aging compounds will help us understand (and possibly treat) debilitating age-related diseases, then why not? But then that is another side of the coin...

We cannot deny that fact that there are people out there who want to be young forever and will do everything possible to keep young including consumption of anti-aging supplements being marketed today even if the safety and effectiveness of such products aren't proven yet.

Anyway...it seems the search for the anti-aging compound hasn't stopped. Now, another compound - lipoic acid - is being investigated as a potential anti-aging compound.

Lipoic acid has been found in animal studies to slow down the aging process, improve blood flow, and enhance immune functions among others.

Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University have already identified the mechanism of action of lipoic acid.

According to Tory Hagen, an LPI researcher and associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU:

"The evidence suggests that lipoic acid is actually a low-level stressor that turns on the basic cellular defenses of the body, including some of those that naturally decline with age.

In particular, it tends to restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound, to those of a young animal. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which is relevant to many degenerative diseases."

In LPI reserchers' quest for vitamins, dietary approaches and micronutrients that may be implicated in the aging or degenerative disease process has found the most compelling promise in lipoic acid.

Found at low levels in green leafy vegetables, lipoic acid can also be taken as a supplement.

Study findings on lipoic acid have been presented and discussed at the "Diet and Optimum Health" conference recently held (May 16-19 in Portland, Oregon) and sponsored by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

Find more details from the full report.

[Photo Credit: Herbs, Garden and Health Home]