Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) supports memory, mental energy, and nerve integrity.* Acetyl-L-Carnitine is found in high concentrations in the brain, nerves, heart, muscles, liver and sperm cells. Research shows that ALC increases the natural production of both serotonin and dopamine and provides improved tolerance to stress.*
Acetyl-L-Carnitine vs. L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a combination of the amino acid L-Carnitine with an acetyl group attached, thereby making ALC fat soluble so that it can cross the blood brain barrier (something plain L-Carnitine does not do).*
ALC and Memory
ALC helps make acetylcholine, the primary neurotransmitter needed for memory function.* Animal studies show that ALC helps improve memory task performance, while at the same time improving the energetic function of brain cells.* Other studies show improvement in acquiring and retaining information.*
ALC and Nerves
An important nutrient required for nerve transmission is called myo-inositol.* ALC supplementation has been shown to promote normal levels of myo-inositol in nerves, thus facilitating normal nerve transmission.* ALC also functions as a nerve antioxidant.*
Nerve cells are different than other cells of the human body in that they do not split and divide to facilitate repair or regeneration. Nerve cells either try to repair themselves when stressed or make new nerve fibers. ALC not only helps protect nerves from stress, it has also been shown to promote the natural process of new nerve fiber growth.*
Beta-amyloid is a term for protein fragments that the brain produces normally. In a healthy brain, they are broken down and cleared. ALC is an important nutrient that facilitates this natural "house cleaning" process of beta-amyloid fragments.*
ALC and Fat Metabolism
It is now known that ALC levels decline with age. ALC has been shown to reduce the accumulation of damaged fats in the brain and on the skin (brown spots).* ALC has been shown to support healthy metabolism of fats, as well as thyroid and leptin function.*
ALC is also in the supplement:
* Stress Helper (300mg per capsule)
