Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Main Points

• Neuroprotective
• Commonly used as a brain booster due to its ability to increase alertness and mitochondrial function, while providing support to neurons.
• Has been shown to alleviate age-related neurological decline and chronic fatigue.

Name

• Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR), related to the less neurological L-Carnitine

How To Take

• Effective daily dose of ALCAR is between 500 - 2,000 mg

Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Cognition

ALCAR is well-known for its ability to protect neuronal health, boost cognitive function, support mitochondrial function, and attenuate mental fatigue.

Mental Fatigue

In both human and animal clinical trials, ALCAR supplementation has been shown to decrease chronic fatigue in otherwise healthy individuals, as well as improve sleep disorders related to fatigue, and reductions in post-exercise fatigue [1, 2, 3].

Studies have shown that CILTEP ingredient forskolin increases transcription of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the brain. Sleepiness is a common side effect of excessive AChE production, and it is theorized that lower brain levels of acetylcholine are associated with sleepiness.

ALCAR has been shown to increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain, which is thought to counter the sleepy, fatigue-inducing effects of forskolin-mediated increase in acetylcholinesterase.

Energy Metabolism

ALCAR is involved in energy metabolism and mitochondrial protection, and may increase fat-burning potential.