Acetyl-l-carnitine; L-carnitine

Pharmakon

Carnitine is a nutrient that helps the body turn fat into energy. It is produced by the body in the liver and kidneys and stored in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain, and sperm.

Usually, the body can make all the carnitine it needs. Some people, however, may be deficient in carnitine because their bodies cannot make enough carnitine or transport it into tissues so it can be used. Some other conditions, such as angina or intermittent claudication, can also cause insufficient carnitine in the body, as can some medications.

Carnitine has been proposed as a treatment for many conditions because it helps reduce oxidative stress. Some of the conditions carnitine may help treat are serious, and in those cases, you should take the supplement under the supervision of your doctor, as an adjunct therapy to conventional medicine. For other conditions, such as fatigue or improving exercise performance, carnitine appears safe but seems to have little effect


Male Infertility

Low sperm counts have been linked to low carnitine levels in men. Several studies suggest that L-carnitine supplementation may increase sperm count and mobility.


Erectile Dysfunction

Preliminary studies suggest propionyl-L-carnitine may help improve male sexual function. One study found that carnitine significantly improved the effectiveness of sidenafil (Viagra) in men with diabetes who had not previously responded to Viagra. More studies are needed.


Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)


Some researchers speculate that CFS may be caused by deficiencies in a variety of nutrients, including carnitine. L-carnitine has been compared to a medication for fatigue in a study of 30 people with CFS. Those who took L-carnitine did much better than those who took the medication, particularly after receiving the supplement for 4 - 8 weeks. However, the study was not well-designed, and many of those who took the prescription medication dropped out of the study


Peyronie's Disease

Peyronie's disease is characterized by a curvature of the penis that leads to pain during an erection because of blocked blood flow. Acetyl-L-carnitine worked better than the medication at reducing pain during intercourse and minimizing the curve of the penis. Acetyl-L-carnitine also had fewer side effects than tamoxifen. Although the study results are encouraging, more research is needed.

Hyperthyroidism

Some research suggests that L-carnitine may prove useful for preventing or reducing symptoms of an overactive thyroid, such as insomnia, nervousness, elevated heart rate, and tremors. In fact, in one study, a small group of people with hyperthyroidism had improvement in these symptoms, as well as normalization of their body temperature, when taking carnitine. But a larger, well-designed clinical trial is needed before carnitine can be recommended for hyperthyroidism.


Heart Conditions

•Angina -- The best evidence for carnitine's use for heart disease is as an addition to conventional treatment for stable angina. Several clinical trials indicate that L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine can help reduce symptoms of angina and improve the ability of those with angina to exercise without chest pain. You should not self-treat chest pain with carnitine, however. See your doctor for diagnosis and conventional treatment, and take carnitine only under your doctor's supervision.


•Heart Failure -- A few small studies have suggested that carnitine (usually propionyl-L-carnitine) can help reduce symptoms of heart failure and improve exercise capacity in people with heart failure. However, more and larger studies are needed to confirm any benefit.
Peripheral Vascular Disease

Decreased blood flow to the legs from atherosclerosis (plaque build up) often causes an aching or cramping pain in the legs while walking or exercising. This pain is called intermittent claudication, and the diminished blood flow to the legs is called peripheral vascular disease (PVD). A number of studies show that carnitine can help reduce symptoms and increase the distance that people with intermittent claudication can walk. Most studies have used propionyl-L-carnitine. Scientists don't know whether L-carnitine would have the same effect.

Diabetic Neuropathy

When high blood sugar levels damage nerves in the body, especially the arms, legs, and feet, the condition is called diabetic neuropathy. Some small preliminary studies suggest acetyl-L-carnitine may help reduce pain and increase normal feeling in affected nerves. It is also possible that carnitine can help nerves regenerate. More research is needed.

Exercise Performance

Although carnitine is often taken to improve exercise performance, there is no evidence it works



Dietary Sources:

Red meat (particularly lamb) and dairy products are the primary sources of carnitine. It can also be found in fish, poultry, tempeh, wheat, asparagus, avocados, and peanut butter.



Available Forms:

Carnitine is available as a supplement in a variety of forms.

•L-carnitine: the most widely available and least expensive
•Acetyl-L-carnitine: Often used in studies for Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders
•Propionyl-L-carnitine: Often used in studies for heart disease and peripheral vascular disease

dr.Hazem

شكراً على الإفادة دكتورة فارما بس شو التصنيف العلمي لهي المادة ؟

Pharmakon

انا من كام يوم خرجت الدوا ده لروشته بيعانى فيها المريض من ال infertility علشان كده حبيت اعرف ليه اخد الدواء ده والاجابه لقيتها ف المقال

اما عن سؤالك دوك حازم انا بحثت واتمنى اكون جاوبت ع سؤالك

Carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound biosynthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine.

In living cells, it is required for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into the mitochondria during the breakdown of lipids (fats) for the generation of metabolic energy.

It is often sold as a nutritional supplement.