9 Amazing Acetyl-L-Carnitine Benefits & Side Effects

Acetyl-L-carnitine can lift your mood, sharpen your mind, and offset brain aging. It works by maximizing energy use in the body and boosting acetylcholine, the most important neurotransmitter for learning and memory. Read on to find out if acetyl-L-carnitine is for you and how to use it for optimal results. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC or ALCAR) is an amino acid that fuels energy production in your cells and supports nerve function. It supplies the acetyl group for burning fats in your mitochondria ( fatty acid oxidation ) and producing acetylcholine [ 1 , 2 ]. Your muscles and heart tissue stock different forms of carnitine as energy reserves [ 3 ]. Meat and other animal foods contain L-carnitine, but your liver and kidneys can also produce it from two amino acids: lysine and methionine . An enzyme called carnitine acetyltransferase (CRAT) then turns L-carnitine into acetyl-L-carnitine and vice versa [ 4 ]. Vegetarians consume less carnitine from the foods they eat, however, they maintain normal carnitine levels in the blood. How? The theory is that vegetarians are able to adapt to diets low in carnitine and absorb it more efficiently [ 3 ]. Under normal conditions, your body will produce sufficient amounts of carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine. However, the following may impair the process and raise your risk of carnitine deficiency [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 3 ]: Genetic disorders Old age Kidney disease Liver disease Antibiotics Diabetes Obesity Long-term fasting or calorie restriction Drugs for seizures Premature birth Do athletes and bodybuilders need more carnitine? Not quite. However, they benefit from supplementation because higher levels of l-carnitine in the blood and muscles increase blood flow and oxygen supply, enhancing muscle recovery after exercise [ 8 ]. Most people use acetyl-L-carnitine to enhance their cognition and rev up energy levels. […]

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