Lipoic acid is an antioxidant that outperforms VITAMINS A, C, and E and eliminates free radicals that accelerate aging and cause disease. Lipoic acid also has a variety of beneficial effects on the human body. Lipoic acid is a restricted essential nutrient required by cells to produce energy from carbohydrates and other energy substances. It is also an effective antioxidant and heavy metal chelator. The body can synthesize a moderate amount of lipoic acid but under stress or disease, its synthesis cannot meet the requirement. Like many important substances in the body, lipoic acid levels decline with age. Among many antioxidants, lipoic acid has its unique versatility. It is both water - and fat-soluble and protects all tissues and interstitial Spaces in the body. It can resist oxidized anion, hydroxide ion, singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and other free radicals, and can chelate (combine and neutralize) with metal ions (such as iron, copper, cadmium, lead, mercury and other metal ions), catalyze the generation of free radicals. Another important effect of lipoic acid is to lower blood sugar. Because of its antioxidant, metal-chelating, and blood-sugar lowering properties, lipoic acid protects against hyperglycemia and cross-linking (hyperGLYCEMia and cross-linking are important causes of aging and are closely related to wrinkle formation).