Powerzone Nutrition 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.