Acetyl-L-Carnitine:

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Master Brain Protector and Energizer

By Robert Crayhon, M.S.

Acetyl-L-carnitine
(ALC) is a powerful promoter of overall health in many ways. But it is so remarkable at promoting brain health that we will spend most of our discussion reviewing its benefits in this respect.
Brain nutrition is powerful, and is an awesome responsibility. Why such a responsibility? Because evidence is mounting that whether we become senile, get Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease or develop any other disease of aging has a lot to do with what we eat and which supplements we take—or fail to take. So if you are going to have a healthy brain throughout your life, genetics may be a much smaller part of the equation than you think. The bulk of it may depend on your diet and lifestyle.
Many people ask, When do I need to begin to start taking supplements to protect my brain? My answer? Now. If you care about your brain, you should do everything possible to reduce the lifestyle and dietary insults that can harm it. Avoid stress, which means don’t go berserk when things go bad. Avoid smog, alcohol, and toxic people and toxic relationships—business or personal. Cultivate a spiritual life, and spend your life doing what you love. And start today on an optimal program for lifetime brain protection:

B complex 50 mg
Vitamin C 1,000 mg
Vitamin E 400 IUs
Magnesium 400 mg
Zinc 15 mg
EPA/DHA, 300 mg
Phosphatidylserine 100 mg
Acetyl-L-carnitine 250-2,000 mg

That said, I would like to focus on one of the most exciting nutrients that exists for brain health: acetyl-L-carnitine. This special form of carnitine helps protect brain cells, energizes them, and helps them live longer. It can also can help treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, according to research conducted in humans.1 But the best news about acetyl-L-carnitine is that it may be one of the most important nutrients for preventing Alzheimer’s.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine Slows Brain Aging
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a special form of carnitine that has the particular ability to optimize brain function. Acetyl-L-carnitine is able to cross into the brain more effectively than regular carnitine. It may therefore enhance brain cell function much better than regular carnitine. As we age, acetyl-L-carnitine levels in our brains go down, and for optimal brain function, supplements of acetyl-L-carnitine become mandatory. Particularly for those over forty, acetyl-L-carnitine may be the preferred form of carnitine.

The research on acetyl-L-carnitine is nothing short of extraordinary. Although most of it has been done in animals, there are a handful of human studies as well. Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents the deterioration of the brain during stress, and it helps the aging brain function better. Acetyl-L-carnitine also helps prevent damage that can occur to nerve cells when there is a lack of oxygen in the brain. It is therefore of no surprise that acetyl-L-carnitine is very helpful for stroke victims, who have been found to recover better on 1500 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine per day.

Acetyl-L-carnitine acts in many ways to prevent the deterioration of brain cells that normally happens with age. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, provides the brain with healing energy, and increases levels of a very important messenger molecule called acetylcholine. It is acetylcholine which becomes deficient in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and that may be one of the reasons why these patients have such poor memory function. So, by increasing levels of acetylcholine, acetyl-L-carnitine helps our memory work better and may help prevent Alzheimer’s as well.

Giving cells energy is a wonderful thing. When a cell has enough energy, it can do what it wants and develop itself to the fullest. When a cell lacks energy, it dies. This is particularly bad when it comes to brain cells, because when they die, they are nearly impossible to replace. You and I can take a nap. A brain cell out of energy has no choice but to cease to exist. That is why keeping your brain cells energized with nutrients like acetyl-L-carnitine is so important.

The best thing about acetyl-L-carnitine is that it is completely natural. Because of this, it is completely non-toxic. And acetyl-L-carnitine, like all natural compounds, works through many pathways to help keep the body well. When the body weakens, it does so at many points, not just at one particular area. That is why acetyl-L-carnitine and the natural medicine of which it is a part is so superior for disease prevention. No drug will ever work as well as acetyl-L-carnitine at slowing brain aging or promoting brain health, because no drug can match its breadth of influence on brain function.

Acetyl-L-carnitine protects against loss of receptors in brain cells that normally occurs with aging. These extremely valuable receptors in brain cells allow the neurons in the brain to talk to each other. Without these receptors, you cannot form memories, short or long term. The fact that acetyl-L-carnitine can protect and repair these cell membrane receptors is nothing short of remarkable. In so doing, acetyl-L-carnitine helps to maintain the function of our brain in the most profound and basic way.

Acetyl-L-carnitine does four really remarkable things for your brain and all of your nervous system, including:

Keeps neurons healthy and energetic
Repairs and protects membrane signal receptors
Protects neurons from the damage of stress
Helps increase levels of the important brain messenger acetylcholine to promote memory function and learning ability

Simply put, acetyl-L-carnitine does virtually everything a nutrient could do to keep your brain functioning optimally.

Of particular importance is the ability of Acetyl-L-carnitine to protect the mitochondria—the intracellular powerhouses.2 Consequently, acetyl-L-carnitine not only protects the brain, but the entire body as well. You are as young as your brain, but you are also only as young as your mitochondria throughout your body as well. Acetyl-L-carnitine protects all of the above.

More Ways Acetyl-L-Carnitine Protects the Brain
Acetyl-L-carnitine significantly reduces the amounts of damaged fats such as lipofuscin in the brains of aged rats. Lipofuscin is the brownish pigment that accumulates in the backs of hands of many people over 50—commonly known as aging spots. As lipofuscin builds up in the body, the body ages.3 The reduction of these deposits by consumption of ALC is a key sign that it is slowing the aging process in the brain. Because of this protective effect, acetyl-L-carnitine may be useful in the prevention and treatment of free-radical mediated diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.4

According to animal studies, acetyl-L-carnitine maintains our ability to learn and interact positively with others as we age. In other words, it allows us to teach old dogs new tricks, and make them happier throughout the process.5 It probably does this through its overall beneficial effects on brain function. Older adults given acetyl-L-carnitine saw their directional and word memory improve in a matter of weeks.6 Many studies have confirmed these beneficial effects on memory in older adults, and the dose used in the studies is usually 2,000 mg (2 g) per day.7 Even alcoholics with cognitive impairment have benefited from acetyl-L-carnitine.8

Acetyl-L-carnitine increases levels of nerve growth factor (NGF)—an important brain healing compound. Acetyl-L-carnitine also increases the ability of the body to use NGF more effectively. NGF plays a key role in preserving neurons, especially those that make the valuable brain messenger chemical acetylcholine. Acetyl-L-carnitine also helps neurons in the hippocampus respond better to NGF. As we age, we respond less effectively to NGF, and acetyl-L-carnitine reverses this decline.

Acetyl-L-carnitine also helps maintain the myelin sheath around the nerves that is important for their health and function. This is important because without myelin, our nerves cannot transmit their messages at optimal speed. This suggests that acetyl-L-carnitine might be useful in the treatment and prevention of multiple sclerosis, however more studies are needed on this use of acetyl-L-carnitine.

Another thing acetyl-L-carnitine does is to preserve the genetic information (DNA and RNA) in our cells. DNA and RNA are very important for the longevity of our cells. Acetyl-L-carnitine, in both the heart and brain, appears to protect this genetic information that is so important for health and longevity.

Acetyl-L-carnitine also helps the brain do this by helping brain cells use alternative energy sources, such as lipids or ketone bodies. The brain prefers glucose as its main fuel. Taking acetyl-L-carnitine helps our brain cells adapt to lower levels of glucose in the blood that can sometimes occur between meals or during hypoglycemia. By so doing, it helps the brain maintain a constant supply of energy needed for optimal health and longevity.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine Benefits the Entire Body
Acetyl-L-carnitine has been found to be an important nutrient for sperm health. It may also be important for the health of the offspring because acetyl-L-carnitine protects the valuable genetic material in sperm from free radical damage.9 Acetyl-L-carnitine has also been found useful in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. There is also mounting evidence that acetyl-L-carnitine plays a key role in immune defense. This is because immune cells require acetyl-L-carnitine to remain energetic when they defend the body and fight off pathogens. Acetyl-L-carnitine helps our immune cells stay healthy and strong.10 It has also been found useful in the treatment of depression.11 This, again, is through its role in helping brain cells communicate more effectively. A social brain—one where nerve cells can communicate effectively—is a happy one. I have found that acetyl-L-carnitine, along with phosphatidylserine, B complex and EPA/DHA can virtually eliminate winter depression (seasonal affective disorder), especially when combined with a healthy diet.

Common Questions Asked About Acetyl-L-Carnitine
When should someone start taking acetyl-L-carnitine?
As early in adulthood as possible. College age is a good time. While I believe it is an essential supplement for everyone over 40 who wants optimal brain health and longevity, the damage to the brain from stress begins earlier, for many in the college years. So for those who can afford it, I recommend taking acetyl-L-carnitine during stressful times (studying, exam times) throughout one’s twenties and thirties, and regularly after age 40. Brain aging starts young. If we are going to slow it down, we have
to start optimizing nutrition and lifestyle as soon as possible. Only then can we get the best handle on preventing the loss of brain function later in life.

How much does acetyl-L-carnitine cost?
Acetyl-L-carnitine is somewhat expensive, and I hope to see prices come down soon so that it will become more affordable. This may be the main limiting factor for many who want to take it. When you compare the cost of a dose of acetyl-L-carnitine (500 mg) to the price of a cup of coffee, however, you realize that it costs less, energizes the brain in a much more beneficial way, and has none of the downside of coffee. A lifetime of taking acetyl-L-carnitine will leave you with a much healthier brain and body than a lifetime of caffeine.

Is there anyone who should not take acetyl-L-carnitine?
I do not recommend that acetyl-L-carnitine be taken without supervision in someone with epilepsy or someone who is a manic depressive (bipolar). Such people do not
always need more energy in their brain cells. However, epileptics taking medications such as Valproate—which induces carnitine deficiency—should take supplemental acetyl or regular L-carnitine at a dose of 500 mg per day.

Are there any side effects to taking acetyl-L-carnitine?
One of the side effects of taking acetyl-L-carnitine regularly is more vivid dreams at night. Some enjoy this while others do not. Adjust your dose of acetyl-L-carnitine to correspond with how much you like to dream.

What about older folks who have the beginnings of dementia—how much should they take?
500 mg-2,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine per day. Ideally, they should also be given vitamin B12 shots and plenty of B vitamins orally—these are all often deficient in those over 60. Phosphatidylcholine, 2,000 mg per day, and phosphatidylserine, 100-300 mg per day, also very helpful. This is all best done with the guidance of a health-care practitioner.

Are there nutrients that help acetyl-L-carnitine work more effectively?
Yes, B vitamins, magnesium, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and EPA/DHA (fish oils) all increase the effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine.

References:
Brooks JO, 3rd, Yesavage JA, Carta A, Bravi D. Acetyl L-carnitine slows decline in younger patients with Alzheimers disease: a reanalysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study using the trilinear approach. Int Psychogeriatr 1998;10(2):193-203.

Gadaleta MN, Cormio A, Pesce V, Lezza AM, Cantatore P. Aging and mitochondria. Biochimie 1998;80(10):863-70.

Ramacci MT, De Rossi M, Lucreziotti MR, Mione MC, Amenta F. Effect of long-term treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine on structural changes of aging rat brain. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14(9):593-601.

Puca FM, Genco S, Specchio LM, et al. Clinical pharmacodynamics of acetyl-L-carnitine in patients with Parkinsons disease. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990;10(1-2):139-43.

Kohjimoto Y, Ogawa T, Matsumoto M, et al. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the brain lipofuscin content and emotional behavior in aged rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 1988;48(3):365-71.

Arrigo A, Casale R, Buonocore M, Ciano C. Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on reaction times in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990;10(1-2):133-7.

Passeri M, Cucinotta D, Bonati PA, Iannuccelli M, Parnetti L, Senin U. Acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of mildly demented elderly patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990;10(1-2):75-9.

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(1-2):101-7.

Jeulin C, Lewin LM. Role of free L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in post-gonadal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa. Hum Reprod Update 1996;2(2):87-102.

Kurth L, Fraker P, Bieber L. Utilization of intracellular acetyl-L-carnitine pools by mononuclear phagocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1994;1201(2):321-7.

Guarnaschelli C, Fugazza G, Pistarini C. Pathological brain aging: evaluation of the efficacy of a pharmacological aid. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14(11):715-8.

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