Acetyl L-carnitine is a derivative of the semi-essential amino acid L-carnitine, which is synthesized by your body from other amino acids including lysine and methionine. L-carnitine plays many roles in your health, including the production of energy from fat molecules. L-carnitine deficiencies are rare because your body synthesizes it and you absorb it from nutritional sources. Acetyl L-carnitine is marketed as an L-carnitine alternative supplement but should not be used without the consent of a qualified medical professional.
Role of L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a specialized amino acid that is involved in the metabolism of fatty acids. According to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, L-carnitine is primarily synthesized in your liver and kidneys and is used by tissues that utilize fat for fuel, such as your muscles and heart. In your cells that burn fat, L-carnitine is used to modify fatty acids which allows them to be transported into specialized energy producing compartments called mitochondria. Following transport, dedicated enzymes then breakdown these L-carnitine-modified fatty acids to produce cellular energy.
Nutritional Deficiency
Deficiencies are rare. However, people with certain dietary restrictions or medical conditions may experience systemic L-carnitine deficiencies. People suffering from eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia may not be getting adequate L-carnitine. Vegetarians may also suffer from mild L-carnitine deficiency because L-carnitine is found in animal products like meat and dairy products. Certain medical conditions such as decreased liver or kidney function may cause a reduction in the natural synthesis of L-carnitine.
Genetic Disorders
Rare genetic mutations in an enzyme called carnitine palmitoyltransferase, or CPT, may cause a primary deficiency for L-carnitine. CPT is an important protein that facilitates the transfer of L-carnitine-modified fatty acids into the mitochondria to be metabolized. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, individuals who suffer from these types of genetic defects cannot be treated with L-carnitine supplementations because they lack the appropriate enzymes to use it.
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Individuals suffering from peripheral vascular disease, the result of fatty plaque build-up in the veins and arteries of the legs and arms, have also been shown to have carnitine deficiency and may benefit from supplementation. According to a clinical study published in a 1991 issue of "Circulation," researchers determined that L-carnitine supplementation for patients suffering from severe peripheral vascular disease reversed the deficiency.
References
- Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute; Carnitine; April 2007
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Carnitine
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Carnitine: The Science Behind a Conditionally Essential Nutrient;
- "Circulation"; Muscle Carnitine Deficiency in Patients with Severe Peripheral Vascular Disease; G Brevetti et al.; 1991
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