Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR)

Summary:

Carnitine is an amino acid that the body makes, uses and modifies as part of a healthy metabolism. L-Carnitine is a supplement typically used to improve cognition, elevate depression and improve exercise performance.
 
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a similar compound to L-Carnitine with the main difference being that it uses an acetyl group that connects to the carnitine using an oxygen molecule, and reported to be more effective at crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Effects:

- Improved attention span

- Better cognition in eldery patients

- Improved ADHD symptoms in children

- Fatigue reduction

- Anti-oxidant effects

- Treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms

- Improved exercise recovery

- Increased sperm quality

- Lowered blood sugar

References:

• Kinetics, Pharmacokinetics, and Regulation of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine Metabolism​
• Efficacy of Carnitine in the Treatment of Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) Treatment in Elderly Patients With Fatigue
• A Double-Blind, Parallel, Multicenter Comparison of L-acetylcarnitine With Placebo on the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Fragile X Syndrome Boys
• Exploratory Open Label, Randomized Study of Acetyl- And Propionylcarnitine in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Single Dose Administration of L-carnitine Improves Antioxidant Activities in Healthy Subjects
• Double-blind, Multicenter Trial Comparing Acetyl L-Carnitine With Placebo in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Patients
• L-Carnitine L-tartrate Supplementation Favorably Affects Markers of Recovery From Exercise Stress
• Use of Carnitine Therapy in Selected Cases of Male Factor Infertility: A Double-Blind Crossover Trial
• Effects of Oral L-carnitine Supplementation on Insulin Sensitivity Indices in Response to Glucose Feeding in Lean and overweight/obese Males
  
• Carnitine: Lessons from One Hundred Years of Research