Benefits of Acetyl-L-Carnitine:

When will I start feeling the benefits of acetyl-L-carnitine?
You should begin to feel an increase in mental energy and focus within twenty minutes. For this reason, do not take it late in the day as it may delay falling asleep.

Are there any side effects to taking acetyl-L-carnitine?

Long term, there are no side effects, only benefits. This is because acetyl-L-carnitine protects and helps to regenerate the brain. Acetyl- L-carnitine is not a stimulant. It is a nutrient which naturally increases the energy of the brain.

Are there nutrients that help acetyl-L-carnitine work more effectively?
Phosphatidyl serine, B vitamins, lipoic acid, phosphatidyl choline and EPA/DHA (fish oils) all increase the effectiveness of acetyl- L-carnitine.

Improving Memory and Reversing Senility
Over thirty studies show that acetyl-L-carnitine slows or prevents age related decline in mental function.1 1.5 g/day of acetyl-L-carnitine given to 236 older adults for forty-five days significantly increased the effectiveness of performance on all the measures of cognitive functioning, memory performance, and constructional thinking.² Twenty adults given 1.5 g of acetyl-L-carnitine experienced reversal of many of the signs of brain aging.³ Alcoholics with cognitive impairment have also benefited from acetyl-L-carnitine.⁴

Relieving Depression
Acetyl-L-carnitine is one of the most valuable compounds for relieving depression naturally.^5,6 It does so through increasing the energy of brain cells. Energy allows brain cells to communicate better, and a social brain is a happier brain. Acetyl-L-carnitine also increases levels of compounds such as acetylcholine, which is essential for healthy mood levels.

Speeding Stroke Recovery
One hundred sixty patients who had suffered from a stroke a year or more ago were given 1.5 g of acetyl- L-carnitine a day for eight weeks. This led to increased speed of recovery, as well as improved mood and attention span.⁷

Slowing Alzheimer's
Thirty Alzheimer's patients given acetyl-L-carnitine for 6 months saw dramatically less mental deterioration.⁸ One year treatment with acetyl- L-carnitine in 130 patients with Alzheimer's also led to a slower rate of mental decline in 13 of the 14 outcome measures.⁹ A total of over 600 patients with Alzheimer's have been studied in over twenty years of research,¹⁰ confirming that acetyl-L-carnitine benefits Alzheimer's patients.^11-13 Acetyl-L-carnitine may also be of benefit in the management of Parkinson's disease.¹⁴

Helping Damaged Nerves and Diabetic Neuropathy
Animal models of sciatic nerve injury show that acetyl-L-carnitine dramatically increases the speed of nerve healing and prevents loss of nerve function.¹⁵ Acetyl-L-carnitine should be considered in all cases where physical injury to neurons occurs, including brain injuries from car accidents and other causes.¹⁶ Those with brain injuries report that acetyl-L-carnitine-especially when combined with phosphatidyl serine-significantly improves overall brain function, attention span, and learning ability. Acetyl- L-carnitine has also been found helpful in the management of diabetic neuropathy,¹⁷ especially when combined with lipoic acid and GLA.¹⁸

Immune System
Acetyl-L-carnitine has also been found to be a powerful immune enhancer. This is due to its ability to promote the health of the nervous system, which in turn governs the activity of the immune system. Acetyl-L-carnitine may offer specific to HIV patients.^19,10 and those with tuberculosis.

References
1. Dowson JH, Wilton-Cox H, Cairns MR, Romacci MT. The morphology of lipopigment in rat Purkinje neurons after chronic acetyl-L-carnitine administration: a reduction in aging related changes. Biol Psychiatry 1992; 32: 179-87.

2. Cipolli C, Chiari G. [Effects of L-acetyl carnitine on mental deterioration in the aged: initial results]. Clin Ter 1990; 132:479-510

3. Guarnaschelli C, Fugassa G, Pistarini C. Pathological brain ageing: evaluation of the efficacy of a pharmacological aid. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988; 14.715-8.

4. Tempesta E, Troncon R, Janiri L, et al. Role of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of cognitive deficit in chronic alcoholism. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990; 10.101-7.

5. Tempesta E, Casella L, Pirrongelli C, Janiri L, Calvani M, Ancona L. L-acetylcarnitine in depressed elderly subjects. A cross-over study vs placebo. Drugs Exp Clin Re
13.417-23.

6. Garzya G, Corallo D, Fiore A, Lecciso G, Petrelli G, Zotti C. Evaluation of the effects of L-acetyl carnitine on senile patients suffering from depression. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1990; 16:101-6.

7. Patti F, Marano P, Cappello S. Effects of L-Acetyl carnitine on functional recovery of hemiplegic patients. Clin Trials J 1988; 25:87 -101.

8. Sano M, Bell K, Cote L, et al. Double-blind parallel design pilot study of acetyl levocarnitine in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Arch Neurol 1992; 49: 1137 -41.

9. Spagnoli A, Lucca U, Menasce G, et at. Long-term acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1991; 41: 1726-32.

10. Brooks JO, 3rd, Yesavage JA, Carla A, Bravi D. Acetyl L-carnitine slows decline in younger patients with Alzheimer's disease: a reanalysis of a double-blind, placebo study using the trilinear approach. Int Psychogeriatr 1998; 10: 193-203.

11. Rai G, Wright G, Scott L, Beston B, Rest J, Exton-Smith AN. Double-blind, placebo controlled study of acetyl-I-carnitine in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Curr Med Res Opin 1990;11:638-47.

12. Brooks JO, 3rd, Yesavage JA, Carla A, Bravi D. Acetyl L-carnitine slows decline in younger patients with Alzheimer's disease: a reanalysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study using the trilinear approach. Int Psychogeriatr 1998; 10: 193-203.

13. Thai LJ, Carla A, Clarke WR, et al. A 1 -year multicenter placebo-controlled study of acetyl-L-carnitine in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1996; 47: 705-11

14. Puca FM, Genco S, Specchio LM, et al. Clinical pharmacodynamics of acetyl-L-carnitine in patients with Parkinson's disease. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990; 10.139-43

15. De Angelis C, Scarfo C, Falcinelli M, et al. Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents age-dependent structural alterations in rat peripheral nerves and promotes regeneration following sciatic nerve injury in young and senescent rats. Exp Neuro11994; 128: 103-14.

16. De Angelis C, Scarfo C, Falcinelli M, Redo E, Ramacci MT, Angelucci L. Levocarnitine acetyl stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration and neuromuscular junction remodeling following sciatic nerve injury. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1992; 12:269-79.

17. Pacifici L, Bellucci A, Piovesan P, Maccari F, Gorio A, Ramacci MT. Counteraction on experimentally induced diabetic neuropathy by levocarnitine acetyl. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1992; 12:231-6.

18. Quatraro A, Roca P, Donzella C, Acampora R, Marfella R, Giugliano D. Acetyl-L-carnitine for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy [letter]. Diabetologia 1995; 38: 123.

19. Famularo G, Moretti S, Marcellini S, et al. Acetyl canitine deficiency in AIDS patients with neurotoxicity on treatment with antiretroviral nucleoside analogues. Aids 1997; 11:185-90.

20. Scarpini E, Sacilotto G, Baron P, Cusini M, Scarlato G. Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathies in HIV+ patients. J Peripher Nerv Syst 1997; 2:250-2.

21. Jirillo E, Altamura M, Munno I, et al. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine oral administration on lymphocyte antibacterial activity and TNF-alpha levels in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. A randomized double blind versus placebo study. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 1991; 13: 135-46.