Acetyl-l-Carnitine – Anti-Aging for Brain & Metabolism

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The links throughout this article go to studies.

Acetyl-l-Carnitine – Anti-Aging for Brain & Metabolism

_http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/acetyl_l_carnitine_anti_agin

g_for_brain_cells_and_metabolism/_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/acetyl_l_carnitine_anti_aging_fo\

r_brain_cells_and_metabolism/)

Byron s, CCN

_Acetyl-l-Carnitine_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_protects_and_supports_brain_\

health_and_function) (ALC) is a special

nutrient with a high-level ability to positively influence brain health, stress

tolerance, and metabolism – especially of fat. Unlike plain l-carnitine (an

amino acid), ALC is fat soluble and highly active in nerves, offering

superior protection from stress and excitotoxic damage.

ALC is highly synergistic with the nutrient pantethine, which makes CoA.

CoA latches on to fatty acids and turns them into something that has the

potential to be metabolized as fuel (acyl-CoA). In turn, ALC grabs the

acyl-CoA and makes acetyl-CoA, a form of fuel that is used by your cellular

engines (mitochondria) to make energy. This burning of fat for fuel is called

_beta-oxidation_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_enhances_proper_use_of_coenz\

yme_a_in_turn_enhancing_fat_metabolism) . The ability

of your body to manage CoA correctly is vital to your health

ALC is one of a number of nutrients that has an energetic effect on your

brain cells. It helps to maintain their normal production of energy, and

thus their health. ALC is particularly good at protecting nerve cells and

even has a regenerative effect on them.

Brain Anti-Aging and Cognitive Health

Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline are difficult problems of nerve-related

wear and tear that involve the formation of amyloid plaque. ALC helps

address this problem in several ways. ALC promotes nerve cells to

alpha-secretase instead of beta-secretase. This results in less production of

_beta-amyloid plaque_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_stop_alzheimers_plaque\

_formation) . ALC also preserves the level of BDNF,

which helps to repair as well as make new brain cells. I recently reported

that BDNF itself was shown to prevent and reverse _Alzheimer’s_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/bdnf_prevents_and_reverses_alz\

heimers_dis

ease/) in a variety of animal models.

ALC also helps your brain _metabolize fat_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_lowers_cholesterol_and_fat_a\

ccumulation_associated_with_

aging) and cholesterol so that these extra lipids don’t build up and clog

your brain’s function. This clean up function makes it less likely that

cholesterol will form into beta-amyloid plaque.

Excess alcohol damages brain cells, in part, by leaving a trail of damaged

fatty particles which then produce free radicals and cause even more

damage. ALC has been shown to clean up these _damaged fatty particles_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_protects_brain_cells_from_al\

cohol

_damage) , preventing the damage caused by excess alcohol intake.

ALC helps _prevent toxins_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_stops_toxin_induced_loss_of_\

brain_energy) from interfering with

brain cell energy production. The ability to maintain energy production in

your brain is vital to your mood as well as the lack of wear and tear that is

associated with cognitive health. And another recent study showed that a

mixture of high quality nutrients, _including ALC_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_lipoic_acid_dha_and_ps_stop_\

cogntive_decline) ,

Lipoic Acid, DHA, and PhosphatidylSerine were able to stop cognitive

decline in an animal model of experimentally induced nerve destruction.

ALC is known to boost general nerve transmission and this was recently

tested in diabetic patients with _peripheral neuropathy_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_diabetic_neuropathy) .

A dose of 2000

mg per day showed a decrease in pain, improvement in nerve conduction, and

some nerve regeneration.

Studies in aging animals invariably show increased inflammation and

oxidative damage in the brain. ALC supplementation not only stops the

progression of the inflammation and free radical damage it actually _helps

reverse

the problem_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_can_anti_age_your_brain)

– demonstrating a return of less-aged nerve function. This

is a true anti-aging result from ALC. Another study showed that ALC

_restored brain energetics_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_has_anti_aging_boost_on_brai\

n_energetics) resulting in less free radicals

and less lipofusion formation (age spots) – features of an anti-aging

nutrient.

Energy and Stress Management

ALC helps to preserve the integrity of _mitochondria_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/lipoic_acid_and_alc_improve_brai\

n_energy_function)

, which are your cell’s car engines. This is a direct anti-aging

function on their integrity, facilitating a cell’s ability to make energy.

On the

other hand, individuals with _chronic fatigue_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/fatigue_leads_to_decreased_level\

s_of_alc_in_the_blood)

are consistently low in ALC.

You brain needs energy to function properly. ALC has been shown to

increase the output of _serotonin and dopamine_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_boosts_dopamine_and_seratoni\

n) , making it a truly

natural antidepressant. It does this while enhancing brain plasticity, meaning

that it can help your brain form new patterns of function.

In the face of _stress_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_maintain_brain_energy_\

and_act_as_a_buffer_against_stress) , ALC

helps to maintain your brain’s energy supply, meaning that it noticeably

helps

you to cope with stress in a more efficient manner. This study shows that

ALC helps maintain brain energy levels and acts as a buffer against

oxidative stress, enabling nerves to more efficiently tolerate higher levels of

stress.

In a study with elderly men ALC was shown to improve _mild depression_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_decrease_stress_levels

_of_older_adults) , which was measurable not only by questionnaire but also

by positive changes in the energetics of their prefrontal brain regions.

Another form of stress is the condition of low oxygen and low blood sugar

that is often found in people with poor circulation and bad eating habits.

ALC has been shown to _prevent injury_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_aids_the_brain_in_stress_tol\

erance) to nerves even in

this stressed condition.

ALC, Fat Metabolism, and Leptin

It is not surprising that a nutrient such as ALC, which is proven to

assist the _burning of fat_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_assists_proper_metabolism_of\

_fat) for fuel, will have a very positive

effect on your metabolism. Interestingly, ALC even helps insulin work better

so

that sugar can be more effectively metabolized, even in _type II

diabetics_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_type_ii_diabetics_meta\

bolize_sugar) .

Animal studies show that ALC actually helps increase protein muscle mass

while at the same time lowering _leptin resistance_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_prevent_leptin_resista\

nce) . This creates

a positive environment for burning calories more efficiently as the more

muscle you have the more calories you can burn. By improving leptin

resistance your metabolism improves its “go signal.â€

The combination of ALC and R-aplha lipoic acid has been shown to turn on

metabolism within your _stored fat_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_and_lipoic_acid_activate_met\

abolism_within_stored_fat) , in turn

providing the energy to help break down fat to use as fuel. ALC turns on

specific genes that help do this.

ALC has been shown to have a _rejuvenating effect_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_promotes_metabolism_of_calor\

ies) on your

liver, helping it to metabolize calories in a more youthful manner. Since your

liver is the main metabolic organ in your body, improving its function is

important for enhancing your metabolism. ALC can even help your liver

improve its metabolism in the presence of _hypothyroidism_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/alc_helps_promote_mormal_liver_m\

etabolism_of_calor

ies) . It is rather amazing that any nutrient can keep metabolism moving

along normally without the regular amount of thyroid hormone it should have.

ALC is a superior fat burning nutrient with added benefits for stress

management and the preservation of your nervous system.

RELATED ENTRIES:

_Pantethine – Boost Your Brain, Cardio Health, Metabolism, and

Detoxification_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/tips/articles/pantethine_boost_your_brain_card\

io_health_metabolism_and_detoxification/)

_Anxiety is a Problem of Missing Brakes_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/anxiety_is_a_problem_of_missin\

g_brakes/)

_Acetyl-L-Carnitine Enhances Longevity_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/acetyl-l-carnitine_enhances_lo\

ngevity/)