Acetyl-L carnitine, also known as ALC, acetil-L-carnitina, arginate dihydrochloride and acetyl-L carnitine hycrochloride, is an amino acid used in cellular energy production. Additionally, acetyl-L carnitine helps to facilitate the metabolism of lipids and fats in your body. Your body can naturally process this amino acid and also requires acetyl-L carnitine for several body processes, including brain and heart and function muscle movement. Acetyl-L carnitine is also available in supplement form. However, you should speak to a medical professional prior to taking any health supplement including acetyl-L carnitine.
Memory
All carnitines have antioxidant properties. Since your body naturally produces carnitines, they are a type of nonessential amino acid. Acetyl-L carnitine helps your body make acetylcholine, the primary neurotransmitter required for memory function. According to "The Carnitine Connection," Acetyl-L carnitine can also help advance memory-intensive jobs while improving the energy supply to your brain cells. Additionally acetyl-L carnitine is a nutrient required by your body for the natural beta-amyloid fragment cleaning process. Your brain naturally produces beta-amyloid fragments. Acetyl-L carnitine helps your brain to break down and removes these beta-amyloid fragments.
Nerves
Unlike other cells in your body, nerve cells do not split and divide. Once damaged, a nerve cell tries to repair itself and make new nerve fibers. Acetyl-L carnitine protects your nerve cells from damage and supports the process of new fiber growth in the nerve cells. According to "User's Guide to Carnitine and Acetyl-L Carnitine," the antioxidant properties of acetyl-L carnitine help to protect your nerve cells from damage. Additionally, acetyl-L carnitine helps your nerve cells maintain adequate levels of myo-inositol, an important nutrient required for nerve transmission.
Other Benefits
As a supplement acetyl-L carnitine has several purported benefits treating medical conditions. According to "User's Guide to Carnitine and Acetyl-L Carnitine," in older patients supplementation with this amino acid can help to improve thinking skills after strokes or the onset of Alzheirmer's disease. Additionally, acetyl-L carnitine can boost both mental and physical energy and help to treat age-related testosterone deficiency. Further, the amino acid may improve sperm motility, increase blood flow to the brain and contribute to heart health. You should, however, only use acetyl-L carnitine to treat a specific medical condition under the supervision of a licensed physician.
Deficiencies
Primary carnitine deficiency, also known as carnitine palmitoyltranserase I or II deficiency or carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, is a rare condition that strikes the protein responsible for transporting carnitine in your body. If left untreated, a series primary carnitine deficiency can cause death. Primary carnitine deficiency normally appears during infancy and childhood. Secondary carnitine deficiency is the result of a genetic or acquired condition that depletes carnitine in your body. Secondary carnitine deficiency commonly occurs in vegans, strict vegetarians and premature infants. Supplementation of acetyl-L carnitine either orally or intravenously, under a doctors supervision, can help treat individuals with carnitine deficiencies.
References
- "User's Guide to Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (Basic Health Publications User's Guide)"; Vera Tweed; 2006
- "No More Fatigue: Why You're So Tired and What You Can Do About It"; Jack Challem; 2011
- "The Carnitine Connection"; Winifred Conkling; 2000
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