Have you never heard of acetyl-L-carnitine? This substance is also known as the "L-carnitine of the brain," which is why it's a component of many supplements and is gaining popularity in both medicine and sports.
In this article, you'll learn why the substance is so important, how it works, and where you can buy acetyl-L-carnitine.
Table of contents
1. What is acetyl-L-carnitine?
Acetyl-L-carnitine, or ALCAR for short, is an essential substance that plays a key role in energy production and fat utilization . Unlike conventional L-carnitine, which can be produced by the body itself and is probably more familiar to most people, acetyl-L-carnitine has an additional acetyl group artificially added .
The advantage is that the attached acetyl group allows L-carnitine to cross the blood-brain barrier . The blood-brain barrier is a natural barrier that separates the bloodstream from the central nervous system.
This is extremely important for your brain, as it protects it from pathogens and neurotransmitters circulating in the blood. Acetyl-L-carnitine can also cross the blood-brain barrier.
L-carnitine is also found in some foods, especially meat , cheese , and milk . Therefore , vegetarians and vegans, in particular, often supplement with this substance. The active ingredient acetyl-L-carnitine , however, which is found in most nootropics , is produced industrially .
The reason for this is again the added acetyl group. This is what gives acetyl-L-carnitine its high effectiveness and bioavailability , making it so special and unique.
The bioavailability of a substance describes how quickly and in what quantity a substance can be absorbed or is available where it is needed. The higher the bioavailability, the better. Acetyl-L-carnitine has extremely high bioavailability and therefore rapid effectiveness.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : With us you can get acetyl-L-carnitine as a practical capsule in FOCUS.
2. The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine
But what exactly does L-carnitine do, and why is it so important for performance? L-carnitine is an essential chemical compound formed from the two amino acids lysine and methionine . It is involved in the transport of fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Mitochondria are your body's powerhouses and are responsible for the entire energy supply to your body and brain. Simply put, your food contains energy in the form of the macronutrients fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
This energy you absorb is transported via the blood to the mitochondria, where it is harnessed. In the mitochondria, usable energy is then created in the form of ATP. The body's common energy currency, which can be used for any purpose.
This process is one of the most fundamental in your body, and its effectiveness determines how well your brain is supplied with energy and whether you feel fit and productive.
If you're interested and want to learn more about how the cellular powerhouses supply your body with energy, you'll find out in this article about mitochondria . It also describes the three best tips for boosting your mitochondria naturally!
Some studies have already investigated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the body. Positive effects have been observed. However, the research is not yet sufficient to draw general health-related conclusions; further clinical studies are needed.
For example, a study from the University of Cantania in Italy addressed this topic and administered acetyl-L-carnitine to subjects suffering from fatigue. [1] Acetyl-L-carnitine was able to help improve mitochondrial fat metabolism , thus producing energy more easily and efficiently.
And here, as always, the more energy your brain can provide, the better.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : So that you can also benefit from the positive effects of acetyl-L-carnitine, we have developed FOCUS with additional vitamins B5 and B12 for your brain performance.
3. Acetyl-L-carnitine, neurotransmitters and the brain
But why is acetyl-L-carnitine so important and effective? The secret lies again in the added acetyl group. In combination with another active ingredient called citicoline , this improves the production of the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Therefore, acetyl-L-carnitine is found as a supplement in many nootropics and is rarely purchased on its own. This brings us to the substance's true function and the reason why acetyl-L-carnitine is used as a supplement. In combination with the active ingredient citicoline, the two substances form acetylcholine.
There are quite a few complicated processes and technical terms, but they all ultimately boil down to the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). This neurotransmitter is essential for the transmission of stimuli and information in your brain .
Neurotransmitters, or messenger substances, therefore play a role in a large number of thought processes . It is extremely important to have an adequate supply of this neurotransmitter, especially in challenging situations.
If you want to learn more about the exact effect of the second component, citicoline, and its positive effect on your mental performance, you can also read more here .
The two substances should always be purchased in combination, because acetyl-L-carnitine and citicoline together increase the concentration of the important acetylcholine. You can guess three times why our FOCUS product contains high doses of both substances. A study by the Institute of Neurobiology at the University of Rome has highlighted the numerous effects of acetyl-L-carnitine. [2]
In the study, one test group received acetyl-L-carnitine, while the other received a placebo. The results showed that the activity of the enzyme acetyltransferase, which is responsible for the conversion of citicoline, was significantly increased in the acetyl-L-carnitine group.
So you can see how important it is to have a sufficient concentration of certain substances, which together can, for example, increase the level of neurotransmitters.
The input of acetyl-L-carnitine at a glance
- Acetyl-L-carnitine increases the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
- The attached acetyl group ensures that the blood-brain barrier can be overcome
- Involvement in mitochondrial lipid metabolism through acetyl-L-carnitine
You can find out more about nootropics and why acetyl-L-carnitine should not be missing from any stack here.
4. What to look out for with acetyl-L-carnitine
When taking acetyl-L-carnitine, you should, based on experience, pay attention to a few things in order to generate the optimal effectiveness of the substance and to avoid side effects.
The goal of taking it is to obtain as much of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine as possible. Neurotransmitters are important for the speed of your brain and for the transmission of communication between synapses.
Are you an athlete? Then you certainly know how important it is to transmit information from the brain through the central nervous system to the muscles. Neurotransmitters are very important messengers in all such processes.
Our BRAINEFFECT nootropic FOCUS contains, among other things, acetyl-L-carnitine. What should you generally keep in mind when taking it? Are there any side effects?
The most common side effects associated with acetyl-L-carnitine are headaches. Otherwise, you should be especially careful of other additives in acetyl-L-carnitine powders, as artificial ingredients are often used to enhance the flavor.
5. Where can I buy acetyl-L-carnitine?
As already explained, it's not advisable to buy acetyl-L-carnitine as a sole active ingredient, but always in combination with other active bioactive ingredients. Only then can acetyl-L-carnitine develop its full power. Therefore, ready-made combination products with the correct dosage are recommended.
A daily dose of 500mg of citicoline should be taken. See how productive you can be with enough restful sleep and vitamin power.
BRAINEFFECT HACK : In our FOCUS capsules you get plenty of acetyl-L-carnitine combined with other ingredients, such as vitamins B5 and B12, which have a positive effect on your mental performance.
6. Conclusion
Acetyl-L-carnitine is the industrially produced form of L-carnitine. The added acetyl group allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus increasing its bioavailability. It influences the function of the mitochondria in your body and thus the energy supply for your muscles and brain.
7. Sources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17658628
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1849696
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3229874
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