Acetyl L-Carnitine HCL: How it Works, Effects and Side Effects

Anyone looking for enhanced mental function and weight loss from the same supplement might have found their answer with Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL.

This is a nootropic compound that has undergone a lot of research both as a cognitive enhancer and for athletic performance and muscle building.

There are actually a number of different forms of Carnitine, but Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL (ALCAR) is the best version to take advantage of the brain-boosting effects.

As we shall see, Acetyl-L Carnitine offers benefits for memory, mental energy, information processing, reasoning, learning, and prolonging your attention span.

What exactly is Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL, how does it actually work and are there any negative side effects to be considered?

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Natural Nootropic

Mental Energy

Brain Function

Memory

How It Works:

• Increases mental energy & focus
• Promotes neuron health & anti-aging
• Improves memory, alertness & signalling

Dosage:

Between 500 - 2,500 per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top ALCAR Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

What Is Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL?

Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL is essentially an amino acid containing acetate and L-Carnitine.

It is manufactured in the body to some degree through the conversion of L-Carnitine (and Lysine) in the liver.

Once absorbed into the bloodstream, it is used by the cells to produce fuel for energy.

This supplement is also involved in a number of different physiological processes which regulate functions including muscular movements, and heart and brain operations.

From there it is stored in a number of different organs like the brain, heart, muscle tissue, and you will even find it in sperm.

Many people currently use L-Carnitine supplements to bulk up if they are bodybuilders. The acetylated version of the supplement has a slightly different range of benefits and it is believed to be better than L-Carnitine in terms of bioavailability.

ALCAR is also able to cross the blood brain barrier and be taken up by brain cells unlike other forms of Carnitine. Once it reaches your brain, the acetate molecule found in this compound becomes very important for the production of a neurotransmitter that mediates many of the cognitive functions occurring in your brain at all times – Acetylcholine.

Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL is also used to treat a number of disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and male infertility and it is a first-class antioxidant that can protect the brain from damage.

Most healthy individuals produce enough of this amino acid to meet FDA suggestions, but for cognitive enhancement purposes supplementation may be necessary.

How Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL Works

Although the mechanisms of action for Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL are still being investigated, it is absorbed through the intestines and then enters into the bloodstream.

The supplement is capable of crossing over the blood-brain barrier and entering into the central nervous system. Once this happens, it is thought that the supplement acts as a precursor for the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine is a powerful brain chemical that plays a vital role in memory formation, learning capacity, overall cognition, and a number of additional brain connections behind our thoughts.

The acetate molecule from ALCAR will bind with choline to be converted into Acetylcholine and then stored in your synaptic vesicles. Many people will take a choline supplement along with Acetyl L Carnitine to be sure that this other necessary Acetylcholine precursor is available as well.

In addition to acting in the brain, Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL is also transported throughout the body into your cells in various different organs.

Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL

One of the most exciting benefits of this supplement for the general population is that it helps your body metabolize fat. It actually works together with your mitochondria to facilitate this process.

In fact, without any Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL present the mitochondria would not be able to absorb and metabolize fatty acids. This is why many people take ALCAR for weight loss purposes, but there are also many nootropic reasons for taking this substance.

The brain relies on fatty acids to perform a number of maintenance processes as well as various cognitive operations and ALCAR can boost this to some degree.

Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL has also shown some positive results in treating those suffering from dementia and other types of age-related cognitive impairment or decline.

Additionally, as a potent brain antioxidant it can reduce or prevent a wide variety of other cognitive deficits and even slow down aging. Research on ALCAR has shown effects in cases related to alcoholism, Lyme disease, depression, and decreased blood flow to the brain following a stroke.

Other benefits include helping to protect a number of organs throughout the body such as improving the quality and function of sperm in males. It can raise cardiovascular function and may even protect the heart and brain cells from environmental damage.

Research on the effects of Acetyl L Carnitine HCL are very promising, and the Natural Medicines database has rated it as Possibly Effective for Alzheimer’s disease, age-related cognitive impairment, general cognitive impairment, chronic cerebral ischemia, male infertility, and diabetic neuropathy. However, at this time, it is only available as a supplement, and the FDA has not approved ALCAR as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

Possible Acetyl L Carnitine HCL Side Effects

When used orally and appropriately, ALCAR has been rated as Likely Safe by the Natural Medicines database. While side effects are uncommon with Acetyl-L Carnitine HCL, there is still a small possibility of mild negative results if you mix it with other compounds or take too much at once. Most of these ALCAR side effects are temporary and include the typical gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, along with headaches, nervousness, and fatigue.

For those taking much higher than recommended doses, there is also the possibility of skin rashes, more intense gastrointestinal issues, increased sweating and appetite, and a fish-like smell to body fluids such as urine and sweat.

The normally recommended dosage range for this supplement is between 500 mg and 3 grams per day. While some people may be recommended to use a different amount of Acetyl L Carnitine HCL by their doctors, anyone interested in nootropic benefits should stick to this range to avoid negative side effects.

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