| As we age, the metabolic activity in our cells | | | | often given little hope of full recovery. |
| decreases which means less energy. Cellular | | | | Acetyl-L-carnitine may also facilitate nerve |
| energy is produced by transporting stored fat | | | | regeneration after nerve injury. |
| through the cell membrane and into the | | | | Published research shows ALC is critical to |
| mitochondria within the cell, where the fats are | | | | youthful cellular function in the brain, heart, liver, |
| oxidized. Overtime cellular debris builds up from | | | | peripheral nerve and immune system as well as |
| the oxidation and less energy is produced. Since | | | | helping in prevention of cataracts. When sugars |
| energy is necessary for the proper functioning of | | | | bind with protein(called glycation), it forms most |
| all our organs, they too are affected by a slowing | | | | notably in the lens of the eye (cataract), the brain |
| in our "energy factories". | | | | (senility) and the collagen of the skin. Scientists |
| Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is the biologically active | | | | recently evaluated the effects of |
| form of the amino acid, L-carnitine, which aids the | | | | acetyl-L-carnitine on the glycation of lens proteins. |
| body in the production of energy and has been | | | | The results show that ALC suppresses glycation |
| shown to protect cells throughout the body | | | | by 42%, thus lowering the risk of cataracts. |
| against age-related degeneration. Most clinical | | | | There have been studies focusing on respiration |
| research has focused on the brain, where | | | | rates in the heart mitochondria of rats. Older rats |
| improved mood, memory and cognition have | | | | had a 40% lower rate of respiration and cell |
| been observed in response to ALC. As people | | | | energy. But when they received acetyl-L-carnitine, |
| grow older, circulation to the brain diminishes which | | | | their heart rates were almost entirely restored to |
| may cause fatigue, reduced drive, faintness, | | | | a more youthful rate. Acetyl-L-carnitine has |
| dizziness, headaches, as well as deficits in | | | | actually been used in treating congestive heart |
| attention and memory. | | | | failure in humans, as well. |
| Acetyl-L-carnitine appears to protect against | | | | While research is ongoing, there are certainly |
| some of the known negative effects that aging | | | | indications that supplementing with |
| induces in the brain. There is a study that even | | | | Acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in aiding our "energy |
| suggests that ALC might someday be used in | | | | factories" to produce efficiently. This, in turn, |
| hospital emergency rooms and stroke recovery | | | | keeps many organs functioning at a more |
| centers to improve the prognosis of patients | | | | youthful level. |
| (with thrombotic or embolic stroke) who are | | | | |