Acetyl-L-carnitine. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Acetyl-L-carnitine.

Altern Med Rev. 1999 Dec;4(6):438-41. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20076816


Abstract: Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is an ester of the trimethylated amino acid, L-carnitine, and is synthesized in the human brain, liver, and kidney by the enzyme ALC-transferase. Acetyl-L-carnitine facilitates the uptake of acetyl CoA into the mitochondria during fatty acid oxidation, enhances acetylcholine production, and stimulates protein and membrane phospholipid synthesis. ALC, similar in structure to acetylcholine, also exerts a cholinomimetic effect. Studies have shown that ALC may be of benefit in treating Alzheimer's dementia, depression in the elderly, HIV infection, diabetic neuropathies, ischemia and reperfusion of the brain, and cognitive impairment of alcoholism.


Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE *Acetylcarnitine/BIOSYNTHESIS/PHYSIOLOGY/PHARMACOKINETICS/ THERAPEUTIC USE Alzheimer Disease/DRUG THERAPY Animal Depressive Disorder/DRUG THERAPY Diabetic Neuropathies/DRUG THERAPY Human HIV Infections/DRUG THERAPY *Nootropic AgentsKWDjournalarticleKWDacetylcarnitine/biosynthesis/physiology/pharmacokinetics/therapeuticusealzheimerdisease/drugtherapyanimaldepressivedisorder/drugtherapydiabeticneuropathies/drugtherapyhumanhivinfections/drugtherapyKWDnootropicagents
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