Acetyl-L-Carnitine Benefits Both Mind and Body

For decades, elite athletes have been using acetyl-L-carnitine as a performance-enhancing nutritional supplement. This supplement is safe, legal and it works. It helps athletes perform longer at high intensity levels, and to recover more quickly after exercise. New research shows that acetyl-L-carnitine also helps those of us who aren’t training for the Olympics. That includes older people facing declines in muscle strength and endurance, and cognitive problems.

Acetyl-L-carnitine plays a crucial role in energy production in the body. When your muscles have enough acetyl-L-carnitine, they can easily burn fat or protein for energy, not just glucose. This delays muscle fatigue, decreases the accumulation of lactic acid, a byproduct of glucose metabolism, and spares glycogen, the storage form of glucose. Acetyl-L-carnitine also increases production of testosterone, which can boost muscle and bone mass, sex drive and mood — in both men and women.

Even in very old people, acetyl-L-carnitine has been shown to increase muscle mass and improve exercise performance. In one study of people 100 years or older, those taking 2,000 mg a day of acetyl-L-carnitine had almost five times more muscle mass, three times the reduction in fat, and big improvements in both physical and mental fatigue, compared to people taking a placebo. Imagine what it could do for someone a few years younger!

The acetyl component of acetyl-L-carnitine has another function — the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital to proper brain function and to the entire nervous system. A number of sound clinical studies have shown that acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation may help in reducing the mental decline due to aging, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease and reduced blood flow to the brain (chronic cerebral ischemia). Although your body can convert some L-carnitine to acetyl-L-carnitine, taking the acetyl-L-carnitine version provides much more of the acetyl form, making it a better “brain food.”

One note of caution: See your doctor before taking acetyl-L-carnitine if you have seizure disorder, hypothyroidism or are taking an anti-clotting drug such as coumadin.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Acetyl-L-carnitine is a proven anti-aging supplement with a long track record of safety and efficacy. As a growing body of research shows, the brain and body benefits of acetyl-L-carnitine can be taken advantage of by men and women of all ages. Make sure that you are taking the “acetyl” form, as opposed to its close relative, L-carnitine, to get the best results possible.

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