Acetylcarnitine

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Acetylcarnitine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
3-acetyloxy-4-trimethylammonio-butanoate
Identifiers
CAS number 3040-38-8
ATC code N06BX12
PubChem 7045767
ChemSpider 5406074
Chemical data
Formula C9H17NO4 
Mol. mass 203.236
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Metabolism  ?
Half life  ?
Excretion  ?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

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Legal status
Routes  ?
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Acetyl-L-carnitine or ALCAR, is an acetylated form of L-carnitine. ALCAR has been claimed to be superior to normal L-carnitine in terms of bioavailability. However, at least one study has suggested that the acetylated form may have a lower oral bioavailability.[1]

Contents

[edit] Chemical derivation

Acetyl-L-carnitine is an acetylated derivative of L-carnitine. L-Carnitine is derived from the amino acids lysine and methionine.

[edit] Health claims

ALCAR supplementation has been shown to be neuroprotective in instances of cerebral ischemia in rats[2] and may be useful in treating peripheral nerve injury.[3] It may have some neuroprotective benefit in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, but further research is required.[4] Research into the compound's safety and efficacy in humans is required. ALC has been shown to be more effective than tamoxifen in improving the curvature and reducing the pain and plaque sizes for men who sought treatment for their Peyronie's disease early and having low curvature deformities.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eder, K.; et Al. (2005). "Free and total carnitine concentrations in pig plasma after oral ingestion of various L-carnitine compounds". Int J Vitam Nutr Res 75 (1): 3–9. doi:10.1024/0300-9831.75.1.3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15830915&dopt=Abstract. Retrieved 2007-03-13. 
  2. ^ Al-Majed AA, Sayed-Ahmed MM, Al-Omar FA, Al-Yahya AA, Aleisa AM, Al-Shabanah OA (August 2006). "Carnitine esters prevent oxidative stress damage and energy depletion following transient forebrain ischaemia in the rat hippocampus". Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 33 (8): 725–33. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.2006.04425.x. PMID 16895547. 
  3. ^ Wilson AD, Hart A, Brännström T, Wiberg M, Terenghi G (2007). "Delayed acetyl-L-carnitine administration and its effect on sensory neuronal rescue after peripheral nerve injury". J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 60 (2): 114–8. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2006.04.017. PMID 17223507. 
  4. ^ Beal MF (2003). "Bioenergetic approaches for neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease". Ann. Neurol. 53 Suppl 3: S39–47; discussion S47–8. doi:10.1002/ana.10479. PMID 12666097. 
  5. ^ Claudio Teloken, Tulio Graziottin & Patrick E. Teloken, "Oral Therapy for Peyroni's Disease", in Laurence A. Levine M.D. FACS, Peyronies Disease: A Guide to Clinical Management, Humana Press, http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nNc_SBEnyd0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA69&dq=Acetyl+L-Carnitine+improves+libido&ots=6rlblde3Q0&sig=sIx9RdOcG6x76uTPGjRN-HYJtSo, retrieved 2009-06-26 

[edit] Other reviews