Defining the Anti-inflammatory Role of Lipoic Acid in Multiple Sclerosis

Subjects (healthy control, relapsing remitting MS and secondary progressive MS) will be recruited through patients of investigators at Portland VA Medical Center (PVAMC), Oregon Health \& Science University (OHSU), and the community using flyers and word of mouth. The following will occur during screening: * Medical History Questionnaire to include questions about drug and alcohol use * Self Administered Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Questionnaire (MS participants only) * Vital Signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure) will be measured and recorded * Physical Exam (MS participants only unless necessary, based on the Medical History Questionnaire or vital signs, to ensure participant safety) * Neurological Exam (MS participants only unless necessary, based on the Medical History Questionnaire or vital signs, to ensure participant safety) * Weight * Urine pregnancy test, if applicable * Anemia testing by finger stick (approximately 1 drop) The rest of the study involves * Blood draws before lipoic acid is given, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 24 and 48 hours after LA is given (3 ½ tablespoons) * Subjects will receive breakfast before they take LA * Subjects will take 4 - 300 mg capsules of lipoic acid (LA) for a total of 1200mg with about 1 cup of water Blood will be processed to obtain plasma (from which lipoic acid concentrations will be measured) and PBMCs (from which cAMP and cytokines/chemokines will be measured).