POWERZONE NUTRITION ACETYL- L- CARNITINE:
PRODUCT INFORMATION
For detailed product information visit the main info site below
Click
here
Acetyl-
L- Carnitine ( ALC ) is
the biologically active form
of the amino acid L-Carnitine. ALC occurs naturally in
the body and it plays an important role in the production of acetylcholine,
one of the body's key neurotransmitters. But one of the most important
roles of ALC is the transport of fats into mitochondria
(the powerhouses of the cells) where most of the cell's energy
is produced.
The most important anti-aging effect of ALC is working
with other substrates to maintain the function of the mitochondria.
When the mitochondria function dwindles, the cell will degenerate
and become diseased. Mitochondria decay and the consequent decline
in cellular energy production may be the most important causes
of cellular decline in aging.
Preventing Cellular ageing with ALC
Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of ALC in
applications such as exercise, heart health, weight management,
and brain anti-aging. A major cause of aging is the deterioration
of the energy-producing components of the cell which results in
reduced cellular metabolic activity, the accumulation of cellular
debris, and eventual death of the cell. One of the most effective
nutrients to maintain youthful cellular energy metabolism is ALC,
which functions to protect cells from the effects of aging.
ALC assists in the transport of fat through the
cell membrane and into the mitochondria (the power-producing unit
of the cell) within the cell, where these fats are utilized to
produce the cellular energy ATP. In studies from the University
of California at Berkeley (Hagen TM et al., 1998) ALC significantly
reversed age-associated mitochondrial decay. It increased cellular
respiration, and membrane potential.
Recent attention has been placed upon its ability to protect and
increase receptors in the brain that normally decline with age.
As such, ALC is being used in high doses to treat senile
dementia's, and has also been shown to help remove lipofuscin,
a potassium age build-up, a function that improves brain function.
This could help improve short-term memory and mental focus.
Assisting fat transport with ALC.
ALC is responsible for shuttling fats in and out of cells, some
indications are that its use may benefit those on a diet to help
lose weight. ALC has been shown to improve energy production
within brain cells and is considered a neuroprotective agent because
of its antioxidant action and membrane stabilizing effects. ALC
facilitates the removal of excess short and medium chain fatty
acids from the mitochondria, that accumulate during metabolism.
There is extensive research data on the rejuvenating effects of
ALC on the brain, where improved mood, memory and cognition
has been observed in response to ALC administration. By
facilitating the youthful transport of fatty acids into the cell's
mitochondria, ALC helps enable dietary fats to be converted
to energy, which results in more youthful cellular function.
Science
shows increased Testosterone and reduced cortisol!
ALC also prevents the drop in testosterone caused by physical
and mental stress (such as exercise and a low-calorie diet) due
to it's suppressing effect on cortisol levels, the hormone that
breaks down muscle tissue! A bodybuilders nightmare.
Studies show that ALC promotes the growth and activity
of cells in the brain responsible for producing hormones that
activate testosterone production [1]. More interesting still,
research presented at the 25th National Strength and Conditioning
Association conference shows that ALC (2 grams daily) is
highly effective for increasing testosterone levels. It can also
have a positive effect on the testes [2], aiding men and bodybuilders
in post cycle recovery.
What's more, ALC (2 grams daily) has also been shown to
reduce muscle damage, while reducing soreness [3]. A trial published
in the American Journal of Physiology shows that muscle "disruption"
several days after exercise was reduced by almost 50% when ALC
was used [4]. Several other markers of muscle damage were also
reduced with the researchers concluding that ALC results
in "... less accumulation of markers of purine degradation,
free radical formation, tissue damage, and muscle soreness."
Carnitine and its esters prevent toxic accumulations of fatty
acids and acyl CoA (in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively)
while providing acetyl CoA for energy generation in the mitochondria.
Improved
hearing and visual function
Two studies indicate a significant reduction in noise-induced
and age-induced hearing loss with ALC. One measured outer
hair cell (OHC) density after three weeks of noise exposure and
found less than a 10% reduction with ALC as opposed to
60% with placebo, and noise induced threshold shifts were less
than 10 dB in the ALC group as opposed to 30-35 dB with placebo
[60]. A six-week study found ALC to improve auditory thresholds
by upregulating mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative
stress [61].
Improvements in visual function have been noted as well. A preliminary
study found an improvement in alignment to ocular responses and
enhancement of optical nerve growth, and hypothesized that ALC
can increase visual function [62]. In vitro, ALC also prevents
the build-up of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the
eye, which are a known cause of macular degeneration [63].
Reduced stress and depression
ALC protects against the decreases in dopamine and testosterone
that normally occur after exposure to both acute and chronic stress
and decreases other markers of stress [44-46], and no tolerance
develops to this effect [45, 47]. Preliminary human studies in
the elderly and those undergoing treatment for certain conditions
indicate a reduction in depression and fatigue and an improvement
in quality of life [10, 48-50]. Powerzone Nutrition ALC
is 100% pure Acetyl-L-Carnitine powder and as you can see by the
scientific data is a worthy addition to any sports or general
health supplement program.
Ingredients: 100% pure Acetyl
L Carnitine Powder
Unit size: 100gms - 1 months
supply
Available
from leading sports supplement outlets.
Click here for retailers in your area.
References:
44. Masi F, Leggio B, Nanni G, Scheggi S, Graziella
De Montis M, Tagliamonte A, Grappi S, Gambarana C. Effects of
Long-Term Acetyl-L-Carnitine Administration in Rats-II: Protection
Against the Disrupting Effect of Stress on the Acquisition of
Appetitive Behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003 Apr;28(4):683-93
45. Tolu P, Masi F, Leggio B, Scheggi S, Tagliamonte A, De Montis
MG, Gambarana C. Effects of long-term acetyl-L-carnitine administration
in rats: I. increased dopamine output in mesocorticolimbic areas
and protection toward acute stress exposure. Neuropsychopharmacology
2002 Sep;27(3):410-20 [abstract] 46. Bidzinska B, Petraglia F,
Angioni S, Genazzani AD, Criscuolo M, Ficarra G, Gallinelli A,
Trentini GP, Genazzani AR. Effect of different chronic intermittent
stressors and acetyl-l-carnitine on hypothalamic beta-endorphin
and GnRH and on plasma testosterone levels in male rats. Neuroendocrinology
1993 Jun;57(6):985-90 [abstract] 47. Pulvirenti G, Valerio C,
Spadaro F, D'Agata V, Freni V, Nardo L, Drago F. Acetylcarnitine
reduces the immobility of rats in a despair test (constrained
swim). Behav Neural Biol 1990 Sep;54(2):110-4 48. Graziano F,
Bisonni R, Catalano V, Silva R, Rovidati S, Mencarini E, Ferraro
B, Canestrari F, Baldelli AM, De Gaetano A, Giordani P, Testa
E, Lai V. Potential role of levocarnitine supplementation for
the treatment of chemotherapy-induced fatigue in non-anaemic cancer
patients. Br J Cancer 2002 Jun 17;86(12):1854-7 49. Pettegrew
JW, Levine J, Gershon S, Stanley JA, Servan-Schreiber D, Panchalingam
K, McClure RJ. 31P-MRS study of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in
geriatric depression: preliminary results. Bipolar Disord 2002
Feb;4(1):61-6 50. Bella R, Biondi R, Raffaele R, Pennisi G. Effect
of acetyl-L-carnitine on geriatric patients suffering from dysthymic
disorders. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990;10(6):355-60 [abstract]
60. Kopke RD, Coleman JK, Liu J, Campbell KC, Riffenburgh RH.
Candidate's thesis: enhancing intrinsic cochlear stress defenses
to reduce noise-induced hearing loss. Laryngoscope 2002 Sep;112(9):1515-32
61. Seidman MD, Khan MJ, Bai U, Shirwany N, Quirk WS. Biologic
activity of mitochondrial metabolites on aging and age-related
hearing loss. Am J Otol 2000 Mar;21(2):161-7 [abstract] 62. Pettorossi
VE, Draicchio F, Fernandez E, Pallini R. The influence of L-acetylcarnitine
on reinnervation of the oculomotor nerve. Int J Clin Pharmacol
Res 1993;13(3):193-9 [abstract] 63. Swamy-Mruthinti S, Carter
AL. Acetyl- L -carnitine decreases glycation of lens proteins:
in vitro studies. Exp Eye Res 1999 Jul;69(1):109-15
