Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, troubled sleep, headache, depression, and anxiety. As of 2011, there is no universally accepted treatment for fibromyalgia. The conventional treatment may include antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-anxiety medications. Acetyl-L-carnitine supplements are an alternative treatment; however, consult your doctor before supplementing with acetyl-L-carnitine.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine Work
Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid that your body produces naturally. The nutrient is involved in the production of cellular energy by assisting in the transport of fatty acid into the cell mitochondria where it is converted to adenosine triphoshate molecule, the major energy currency molecule of the cell.
Acetyl-L Carnitine and Fibromyalgia
The University of Michigan Health System notes that people with fibromyalgia are low in acetyl-L-carnitine and that supplementation may improve musculoskeletal pain, depression, and general and mental health. Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, the author of book "Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now" explains that people with fibromyalgia may have a drop in adenosine triphoshate production and acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation may help improve the ability of certain tissues to produce ATP molecules.
Dosage
A study from Italian researchers published in the March/April 2007 issue of "Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology" indicates that supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine at a dosage of 1.5 g per day for 10 weeks may be more effective than placebo in treating the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. The study patients took two capsules per day of 500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine or placebo plus one intramuscular injection of either 500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine or placebo for two weeks. During the following eight weeks the patients who were not taking placebo took three capsules per day of 500 mg acetyl-L-carnitine. The study concluded that at the 10th week, people receiving acetyl-L-carnitine showed significant reduction in pain and tender points.
Side Effects
Acetyl-L-carnitine appears to be quite safe, although the supplement may cause some mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset and restlessness, according to Tufts Medical Center,. Avoid using acetyl-L-carnitine supplements if you have underactive thyroid as the supplements might interfere with thyroid hormone.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease; Fibromyalgia; April 2009
- "Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now"; Jacob Teitelbaum; 2005
- The University of Michigan Health System; Acetyl-L-Carnitine; Dec. 2009
- "Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology"; Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial Comparing Acetyl L-Carnitine with Placebo in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Patients; M. Rossini et al.; March 2007
- Tufts Medical Center; Carnitine; April 2011
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