Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is one of today's hottest brain-boosting supplements. It's a derivative of L-carnitine, a vitamin-like compound made in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. Both ALC and L-carnitine transport fuel—in the form of long-chain fatty acids—into cellular power houses called mitochondria. But unlike L-carnitine, which is primarily recommended to support heart muscle function, ALC protects brain and nerve cells against age-related decline that dulls memory and alertness.
In many well-designed tests, ALC repeatedly slowed rates of cognitive deterioration. It does so through many mechanisms. It enhances production, release, and uptake of acetylcholine (a key neurotransmitter); diminishes the effects of free radicals on brain cells; and prevents the loss of brain cells. Some studies suggest that ALC even reverses brain cell loss.
The Acetylcholine-ALC Connection
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter essential to nerve function and muscle contraction, and it also affects memory and cognition. Tests show that people with Alzheimer's disease are deficient in acetylcholine. They also tend to have low levels of carnitine acetyl transferase, the enzyme that converts L-carnitine to acetyl-L-carnitine.
Because ALC enhances acetylcholine production, low levels of the converting enzyme are likely to lead to lower levels of acetylcholine. Theoretically, ALC supplements will boost acetylcholine levels compromised by both brain degeneration and carnitine acetyl transferase deficiency. Tests bear this connection out: In double-blind trials, the brain function of Alzheimer's patients treated with ALC was considerably less deteriorated than the control group.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine supports brain function by:
Providing cells with energy
Boosting acetylcholine
Enhancing the protective antioxidant functions of coenzyme Q10 and glutathione
Supporting brain cell health
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In animal studies, ALC reverses the loss of nerve cells in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, areas of the brain associated with memory, problem solving, emotion, and complex thoughts. Aging naturally destroys nerve cells, retarding or limiting the transmission of chemical messages, affecting speech, coordination, and recall. ALC also protects mitochondrial membranes and helps rebuild them if damaged.
Not For Dementia Only
Some physicians recommend that anyone over the age of 40 take ALC supplements in order to protect nerve cells and mitochondria from age-related damage. The supplement may be particularly useful during stroke rehabilitation: ALC protects animal nerve cells from destruction when taken soon after ischemia (localized tissue anemia due to obstruction of the blood supply). For reasons that haven't been determined yet, ALC also improves mood in senile patients. Persons with degenerative nerve disease, or diabetic polyneuropathy or retinopathy, may also benefit from the neuroprotective support that ALC offers.
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