I'll be making a spinach salad for lunch today.  Here's why.

Those who have been on this site for awhile have read about Endothelial Dysfunction (and the new comers are now saying, huh?)

Every single blood vessel in our bodies is controlled by a special lining, called the endothelium.  When this lining malfunctions, there can be breeches of plasmic particles into tissue.  Studying the endothelium is how I got interested in the vascular connection to MS back in 2007.

Here's the nutritional/lifestyle program I wrote up for my husband, after studying the connection to the endothelium:

http://ccsvialliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=112

There is new research which is connecting endothelial dysfunction and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (the slowing of blood thru the brain, which we see in MS) and finding that alpha lipoic acid is a potential means to treat cerebrovascular white matter lesions in rats-

J Neurol Sci. 2010 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Is endothelial dysfunction of cerebral small vessel responsible for white matter lesions after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats?

Huang Y, Zhang W, Lin L, Feng J, Chen F, Wei W, Zhao X, Guo W, Li J, Yin W, Li L.

Abstract

Cerebral white matter (WM) lesions contribute to cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction in the elderly. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are two important adhesion molecules that are upregulated during endothelial activation. Data from recent studies have suggested that ICAM-1 levels are related to progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on MRI. In the present study, we hypothesized that ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are involved in the endothelial dysfunction and the subsequent WM lesions after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Rats underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation. They were divided into the lipoic acid group and the saline (vehicle) group. RT-PCR and double immunofluorescence for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, endothelial cells (staining positive for von Willebrand factor, vWF), reactive astrocytes (GFAP staining) and activated microglia/macrophages/(CD11b/c staining) were analyzed at baseline and at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28days after hypoperfusion. The severity of the WM lesions in the corpus callosum, internal capsule, and external capsule of both hemispheres was graded by luxol fast blue staining. RT-PCR and double immunofluorescence analysis of white matter from rats that had received lipoic acid (100mg/kg/day) for 28days exhibited markedly reduced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 over endothelial cells compared with that of rats receiving saline.

In the rats treated with lipoic acid, the WM lesions after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion were significantly less severe, and the number of reactive astrocytes and activated microglia/macrophages (CD11b/c staining) were also significantly lower as compared with the saline-treated rats. These findings indicate that endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in overexpression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, glial cell activation and WM lesions after chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and suggest the potential value of lipoic acid as a therapeutic tool in cerebrovascular WM lesions. Our results also provide support for endothelial activation being involved in early pathogenesis of WM lesions and suggest that therapies that stabilize the endothelium may have a role in preventing WM lesions progression.

There are many studies on (alpha) lipoic acid and multiple sclerosis, and beneficial results of lipoic acid supplementation in pwMS.  Here are a couple--

http://msj.sagepub.com/content/16/4/387.abstract

 We conclude that patients taking 1200 mg of lipoic acid from two of the three oral formulations achieved serum Cmax and AUC levels comparable to that observed in mice receiving 50 mg/kg subcutaneous dose of lipoic acid, which is a highly therapeutic dose in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. A dose of 1200 mg oral lipoic acid can achieve therapeutic serum levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/NutritionMS/AlphaLipoicAcidtrial.pdf

I think it might be advisable to look at alpha lipoic acid as an additional supplement to add to the endothelial health program-

Food Sources of lipoic include: dark green leafy vegetables, including spinach and collard greens; broccoli

"Because alpha-lipoic acid can pass easily into the brain, it has protective effects on brain and nerve tissue. Scientists are investigating it as a potential treatment for stroke and other brain disorders involving free radical damage. Animals treated with alpha-lipoic acid, for example, suffered less brain damage and had a four times greater survival rate after a stroke than animals who did not receive this supplement. More research is needed to understand whether this benefit applies to people as well."

Please consult this for contraindications, and always speak to a medical professional before adding any supplements to your current program:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/alpha-lipoic-000285.htm