Acetyl L-Carnitine
BIO
Found In
Meat, fish, poultry, milk, Asparagus, cereals
Form
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Source
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Carnitine is derived from amino acids. Acetyl-L-carnitine is synthesized from L-carnitine in the body. Carnitine plays an important role in energy production. It transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for oxidation to produce energy. The main function of carnitine is to transfer the long-chain fatty acids to mitochondria for subsequent β-oxidation (1).
KEY BENEFITS
- Helps to convert fat into energy.
- Improves brain function, reaction time & nerve health.
- Antioxidant and it helps to maintain healthy triglyceride levels.
- It promotes healthy sperm count and motility.
- It is an important amino acid for heart and skeletal muscle function.
Description
L-carnitine is an amino acid, and a cofactor that is required for the metabolism of fats and their subsequent transport into the mitochondria, where they undergo oxidation and produce energy.
In the heart muscle, L-carnitine facilitates fatty acid use, and promotes rhythm, myocardial blood flow, and cardiac output. It has also been shown to benefit athletic performance, with studies showing improvements in maximal oxygen uptake, decreased average oxygen consumption, and therefore improvements in running speed (2).
L-carnitine has also shown to help maintain healthy total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It also supports general wellbeing, and assists carbohydrate metabolism.
Acetyl L-Carnitine or ALCAR is a super antioxidant, occurring form of L-Carnitine that specifically benefits the brain. ALCAR helps supply the brain with energy by improving energetics in the mitochondrion, the cell’s energy generator.
Sexual health
L-carnitine provides ready energy for the spermatozoa (early stage of sperm cell). This has a positive effect on sperm motility, maturation and the spermatogenic process in general (3).
Spermatozoa might require L-carnitine for maturation since a high concentration of L-carnitine is found in the epididymis (curved portion of the testes, where the sperm matures) (4).
Study shows L-carnitine results in improved sperm count and motility (5).
L-carnitine facilitates sperm cell energy production by carrying the long chain fatty acids in the mitochondria for utilization in metabolism (6).
Carnitine facilitates oxidation process in the epididymis and spermatozoa that produces energy for the respiration and motility of sperms (7).
Carnitine may be responsible for removing excess intracellular toxic substances (known as acetyl - CoA) which protects the spermatozoa from oxidative damage (6).
Carnitines also protect sperm DNA and cell membranes from the damage due to ROS free radicals (9).
The Unived difference
Absorption of ingredients is very important when we are considering it for supplementation. One cannot get maximum benefits from the supplementation if the body fails to absorb them. Acetyl L-Carnitine is naturally present in the body. Enzymes convert carnitine to acetyl-carnitine and back, according to the metabolic needs of the cell. Acetyl L-Carnitine is considered a better form for supplementation. Acetyl L-Carnitine gets easily absorbed from the gut and it can cross the blood-brain barrier Unived’s Acetyl L-Carnitine is available as highly absorbable, non-adulterated & pure form.
Evidence-Based or Bust
We use ingredients backed by a significant body of research that is growing each day.
- CARNITINE TRANSPORT AND FATTY ACID OXIDATION
Longo, N., Frigeni, M., & Pasquali, M. (2016). Carnitine transport and fatty acid oxidation. Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1863(10), 2422–2435. - Carnitine in Human Muscle Bioenergetics: Can Carnitine Supplementation Improve Physical Exercise?
Gnoni, A., Longo, S., Gnoni, G. V., & Giudetti, A. M. (2020). Carnitine in Human Muscle Bioenergetics: Can Carnitine Supplementation Improve Physical Exercise?. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 25(1), 182.). - Carnitines and male infertility
Agarwal A &Tamer S, Carnitines and Male Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Online, Vol 8 (4), 2004, 376-384. - L-Carnitine: therapeutic applications of a conditionally-essential amino acid
Gregory Kelly, L-carnitine: Therapeutic Applications of a Conditionally essential Amino Acid, Altern Med Rev, Vol 3 (5)1998, Throne Research. - Effects of L-carnitine on Infertile Men’s Spermogram; a Randomized Clinical Trial
Peivandi S et al, Effects of L-carnitine on Infertile Men’s Spermogram; a Randomized Clinical Trial.J ReprodInfertil.2010, 10(4), 331. - Carnitines and male infertility
A &Tamer S, Carnitines and Male Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Online, Vol 8 (4), 2004, 376-384. - The role of carnitine in the male reproductive system
NG, Chiu Ming., et al (2004), The Role of Carnitine in the Male Reproductive System, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1033: 177–188. - Oxidative stress and antioxidants for idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: Is it justified?
9. Lenzi A et al in Ashok Agarwal& Lucky Sekhon in ‘Oxidative stress and antioxidants for idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratospermia: Is it Justified?’ Indian J Urol. 2011 Jan-Mar; 27(1): 74–85.