Abstract: Objective To study the effect of lipoic acid on blood lipids and antioxidative ability in patients with age-related macular degeneration(AMD)and to offer new methods for AMD prevention and treatment.Methods Thirty-three AMD patients were adminis trated orally with lipoic acid(LA)for three months at dose of 600mg per day,300mg each time in the morning and evening.The serum cholesterol(CHO),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein(HDL),low density lipoprotein(LDL),malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were dete rmined before and after the LA intervention.Results The vision was improved in 43% of the patients after LA intervention.There was no significant difference in serum CHO,TG,HLD,LDL and MDA between pre-and post-intervention of LA(P>0.05).The serum MDA level decreased by 5.4%(P>0.05)and serum SOD activity increased by 10.9%(P<0.05)compared with that of pre-intervention of LA.Conclusion LA can increase the SOD activity of AMD patients,which preventes the development of AMD.