DESCRIPTION Acetyl-L-carnitine capsules, each contain 500 mg of pure acetyl-L carnitine.
FUNCTIONS Acetyl-L-carnitine
plays a key role in maintaining
normal brain and nerve function during aging, as many
well-designed human and animal studies have shown
consistently. Acetyl-L-carnitine
is a naturally
occurring metabolite of L-carnitine, and both are
present in the diet, particularly in foods of animal
origin.
In most tissues of the body, both L-carnitine and acetyl-
L-carnitine are involved in fatty acid oxidation. They
are part of the so-called carnitine shuttle. L-carnitine
shuttles fatty acids from the cytosol (the cell fluid) into
the mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouses) for oxidation
and energy production. The main end products of fatty
acid oxidation are energy (in the form of NADH), and
acetyl groups. Most of these acetyl groups are further
oxidized in the mitochondria’s Krebs cycle, but some
are needed in the cytosol for producing other important
metabolites. Acetyl-L-carnitine
provides a way to carry
these acetyl groups through the mitochondrial
membranes back out into the cytosol.
In brain and other nerve tissues, this acetyl group export
by acetyl-L-carnitine out of the mitochondria into the
cytosol is important in maintaining normal levels of
acetyl groups for the production of acetylcholine and
other acetylated neurotransmitters, that are so crucial for
normal brain and nerve function. The enzyme that
makes acetylcholine from acetyl groups and choline is
the choline acetyl transferase. The activity of this
important enzyme has a tendency to decline with age,
causing low acetylcholine levels which in turn are
thought to contribute to the impairment of brain function
that is associated with aging.
Besides maintaining normal acetylcholine levels,
several studies indicate other neuroprotective benefits
of Acetyl-L-carnitine
, which may be due to at least
three modes of action. First, acetyl-L-carnitine has
been shown to maintain cellular membrane stability,
and to restore age-related membranal changes.
Acetyl-L-carnitine can also act as an antioxidant,
scavenging harmful superoxide radicals. Since
superoxide can damage membrane lipids, this may
explain acetyl-L-carnitine’s membrane protective
properties. Second, animal studies indicate that
acetyl-L-carnitine preserves normal levels of nerve
growth factor in brain tissue during aging. Third,
human studies indicate that acetyl-L-carnitine
increases cerebral blood flow.
In summary, Acetyl-L-carnitine
is a naturally
occurring compound that supports normal brain and
nerve function during aging through various
mechanisms. These include its actions on
acetylcholine synthesis, membrane stability, nerve
growth factor production, and cerebral blood flow.
INDICATIONS Acetyl-L-carnitine
capsules may be a useful nutritional
adjunct for individuals who wish to support the body’s
nervous system and brain function.
FORMULA (#82730) Serving Size 1 Capsule - Servings per Container 30
Each Capsule Contains:
