Notes from the Underground

(NOTES) What's L-A-C got to Do with It?

NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND; PWA Health Group - July, 1997
Sally Cooper

The PWA Health Group will soon be carrying a quality-controlled brand of L-acetyl-carnitine. There are lots of different kinds of carnitines in the body, often used by muscles and nerves. Medicines that lower carnitines cause muscle and nerve damage. For example, taking AZT for years causes muscle weakness, because a side effect of AZT is that it drains L-carnitine out of muscles L-acetyl-carnitine (LAC) is different from L-carnitine.

It may be that d4T and ddI cause neuropathy by lowering L-acetyl-carnitine in the nerves. An Italian study of 24 PWAs taking ddI found that those with neuropathy had low L-acetyl-carnitine in their nerves, but regular levels of L-carnitine. The 12 PWAs without neuropathy had normal L-acetyl-carnitine and L-carnitine levels.

Does taking L-acetyl-carnitine help neuropathy? We have no idea - there haven't been any studies. Does taking oral L-acetyl-carnitine get into the nerves? No idea. It's been studied in dementia in the elderly with some results, so maybe. Can you measure L-acetyl-carnitine levels to see if this is the cause of your neuropathy? Not that we know of. What's a good dose? Since there hasn't been a study, it's impossible to know.

So why would we carry it? One, there are several studies of the elderly, looking at mood, short-term memory, and thinking ability (cognitive function) in which L-A-C offered significant help. Two, it doesn't seem to have caused any particular side effects at the doses used in the dementia studies, and three, given how severe neuropathy can be, why not offer something safe that might help? If you've tried it or are taking it - please let us know what you think so we can let others know.

[PS: About L-carnitine: health food brands of L-Carnitine vary a lot, and are sometimes really weak. It's better to get the prescription form called L-Carnitor. Hate to recommend an overpriced pharmaceutical, but this is an important supplement for neuropathy and muscle strength, so better not to mess around.]

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeard in 1997. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

Copyright © 1997 - NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND - The PWA Health Group Newsletter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission from the PWA Health Group. NOTE: The PWA Health Group is no longer in existence, as per notification in 2003. An organization called Visionary Health Concepts has succeded them. VHConcepts is a HIV/Hepatitis+ owned and operated health education company specializing in providing free HIV & Hepatitis treatment programs For more information please contact Email: edu@vhconcepts.com. .

This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1997. ÆGIS.