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What is Acetyl L-Carnitine? The Lowdown

9th June 2021

Health Nutrition

9th June 2021

By Beth Shelper

Sometimes referred to as ALCAR or ALC, Acetyl L-Carnitine is a popular daily dietary supplement due to its easy implementation and energy-boosting benefits. But… What actually is it?

What is Acetyl L-Carnitine?

Acetyl L-Carnitine is produced by the body by our liver and kidneys, by lysine and methionine (two very important amino acids). If you eat meat, chances are that your ALCAR levels are already pretty good, as this substance is found in meats such as chicken and beef.

Many people include ALCAR supplements in their diet to increase these levels or if they are vegan and feel that they would benefit from the enhancement of ALCAR in their diet.

Benefits of Acetyl L-Carnitine

The main benefit of Acetyl L-Carnitine is that the amino acid turns fat into energy. As well as improving your mood, this nootropic is a great source of nutrients that bring benefits such as:

  • Improvement of memory and general cognitive function

Studies have shown that following long-term use of ALCAR supplements, many people reported a positive effect on their memory recall and cognitive function. This then improved their focus and subsequently their performance.

  • Relieves symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

One of the most impressive and ground-breaking benefits of carnitine supplementation is the evidence gathered to suggest that ALCAR has a great reduction effect on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. One study even found that in just three months, people that suffered from Alzheimer’s disease experienced significant improvements in cognitive functioning, which improved with prolonged usage and supplementation, increasing over time.

Anything that can be done to reduce these effects are a huge win in the medical field, so this finding provides great evidence for the substance’s positive effects on brain regeneration.  

  • Helps declining testosterone levels in males

For males that are struggling with fertility issues, implementing an ALCAR supplement or increasing your meat consumption may have a positive effect, as ALCAR has been linked to an improvement in male testosterone levels.

  • Helps with fatigue

We all struggle with fatigue from time to time as a result of daily stressors, but if this issue is becoming a hugely prevalent one in your life, it might be a good idea to implement Acetyl L-Carnitine into your diet.

  • Boosts weight-loss

Is one of your fitness goals to lose weight and boost your metabolism? Acetyl L-Carnitine has been linked to having great assistive benefits in weight loss. These effects will only be seen if this supplement is taken in collaboration with a healthy, balanced diet and a good workout routine – so it's not a quick fix!

  • Enhances muscle recovery

Acetyl L-Carnitine has also been linked to the sped-up recovery of muscle tissue. Maintaining good muscle health is key if you are staying active (and even if you’re not) to ensure your body’s condition is maintained and to avoid injury.

Notable Benefits

ALCAR actually has some pretty fantastic benefits that are a bit more unusual, too. Amazingly, it has been found that supplementation of ALCAR can curb alcohol cravings in diagnosed alcoholics, as well as assisting in the management of symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women who suffer with the health condition.

The benefits of ALCAR supplementation will mean that due to a reduction in fatigue, an increase in carnitine will up your energy levels and thus your workout performance. As with all supplementations, it’s important to do your research and discover the best dietary supplementations to achieve your fitness goals, but we recommend vegetarians, vegans and those struggling with fatigue to definitely take a look into the healthy substance.

How can I take Acetyl L-Carnitine?

The most popular way to supplement ALCAR is through powdered supplements mixed with water or milk. If you’re looking for a simple way to increase your energy, our products such as The Energy Booster and The Define Booster (which contains the fabulous carnitine ingredient) will really up your energy levels.

References

  • Kyriazis, M. (2016). Challenging Aging The Anti-senescence Effects of Hormesis, Environmental Enrichment and Information Exposure (Vol. 1). Bentham Science Publishers. Click here.
  • Montgomery, S. A., Thal, L. J., & Amrein, R. (2003). Meta-analysis of double blind randomized controlled clinical trials of acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18(2), 61-71. Click here.
  • Rai, G., Wright, G., Scott, L., Beston, B., Rest, J., & Exton-Smith, A. N. (1990). Double-blind, placebo controlled study of acetyl-l-carnitine in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Current medical research and opinion, 11(10), 638-647. Click here.
  • The Basics of Alcohol Abuse. (2021).  Web MD. Click here.
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PMID: 28615996; PMCID: PMC5469049. Click here.   Smith-Ryan AE, Cabre HE, Eckerson JM, Candow DG. Creatine Supplementation in Women's Health: A Lifespan Perspective. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 8;13(3):877. doi: 10.3390/nu13030877. PMID: 33800439; PMCID: PMC7998865. Click here.  Wohlgemuth KJ, Arieta LR, Brewer GJ, Hoselton AL, Gould LM, Smith-Ryan AE. Sex differences and considerations for female specific nutritional strategies: a narrative review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Apr 1;18(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00422-8. PMID: 33794937; PMCID: PMC8015182. Click here.  Saito S, Cao DY, Okuno A, Li X, Peng Z, Kelel M, Tsuji NM. Creatine supplementation enhances immunological function of neutrophils by increasing cellular adenosine triphosphate. Biosci Microbiota Food Health. 2022;41(4):185-194. doi: 10.12938/bmfh.2022-018. Epub 2022 Jun 17. PMID: 36258765; PMCID: PMC9533032. Click here.  Mohammad Ali Izadi, Farhad Daryanoosh, The effect of creatine supplementation on muscle protein synthesis in athletes: A review. Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme,Volume 39, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 273-281, ISSN 0985-0562. Click here.  Powers ME, Arnold BL, Weltman AL, Perrin DH, Mistry D, Kahler DM, Kraemer W, Volek J. Creatine Supplementation Increases Total Body Water Without Altering Fluid Distribution. J Athl Train. 2003 Mar;38(1):44-50. PMID: 12937471; PMCID: PMC155510. Click here.  Avgerinos KI, Spyrou N, Bougioukas KI, Kapogiannis D. Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Exp Gerontol. 2018 Jul 15;108:166-173. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013. Epub 2018 Apr 25. PMID: 29704637; PMCID: PMC6093191. Click here.
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If you’re looking for a collagen supplement that aligns with both your nutritional goals and your values, explore the Innermost range to find a halal-certified option that fits seamlessly into your routine. References Permadi, S., Ujilestari, T., Hakim, L et al. Characteristics and Applications of Collagen from the Animal By-Product as a Potential Source for Food Ingredients. Permadi et al. Reviews in Agricultural Science. 2024, 327-346. Click here. Aslan., H. The influence of halal awareness, halal certificate, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, attitude and trust on purchase intention of culinary products among Muslim costumers in Turkey. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. 2023. Click here. Schmidt, M. M. et al. Collagen extraction process. International Food Research Journal. 2016. Click here.
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