Acetyl-L Carnitine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body and is also found in milk. It is involved in the transport of fats to the mitochondria (energy producing cell structures of the cells). It also protects from stress and heals damaged nerves caused by injury In January 2002 a team of researchers showed that Acetyl -L Carnitine combined with Alpha Lipoic Acid, a fatty acid, could delay the ageing process by increasing energy (see below). Acetyl -L Carnitine was found to nourish brain cells, protect from free radicals and stress, increase blood flow, reduce depression, improve cognitive abilities, and increase memory in the elderly. It is indicated in the treatment of Alzheimer, AIDS, depression, fibromyalgia, heart disease, memory loss, multiple sclerosis and stress.
Side effects
ALC is believed to be safe and is available without prescription at health food stores.
Research
- Ageing: - Liu J, Head E, Gharib AM, Yuan W. Memory loss in old rats is associated with brain mitochondrial decay and RNA/DNA oxidation: partial reversal by feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and/or R-alpha -lipoic acid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002 Feb 19;99(4):2356- "These results suggest that feeding ALCAR .. (acetyl-l-carnitine) ..and LA (R-alpha-lipoic acid) to old rats improves performance on memory tasks by lowering oxidative damage and improving mitochondrial function."
- Hagen TM, Liu J, Lykkesfeldt J, Feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic acid to old rats significantly improves metabolic function while decreasing oxidative stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002 Feb 19;99(4):1870-5 "Feeding ALCAR in combination with LA increased metabolism and lowered oxidative stress more than either compound alone."
- Ando S, Tadenuma T, Tanaka Y, Fukui F Enhancement of learning capacity and cholinergic synaptic function by carnitine in aging rats. J Neurosci Res 2001 Oct 15;66(2):266-71
- Sorbi S, Forleo P, Fani C, Piacentini S. Double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial with L-acetylcarnitine in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia. Clin Neuropharmacol 2000 Mar-Apr;23(2):114-8 "After the trial, we observed a statistically significant improvement of some symptoms and a slow progression of the disease in both groups of patients."
- Acetyl-L-carnitine. Altern Med Rev 1999 Dec;4(6):438-41 " Studies have shown that ALC may be of benefit in treating Alzheimer's dementia, depression in the elderly, HIV infection, diabetic neuropathies, ischemia and reperfusion of the brain, and cognitive impairment of alcoholism."
Source
http://www.henryspink.org/smart_drugs.htm
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