Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR or ALC) is a trending topic across social media platforms as more people buy this ‘super supplement’ to help them lose weight and increase energy.

Functional health experts, supplement manufacturers and health and fitness influencers are promoting this supplement for its potential to help transport more fat into muscle cells to produce more energy, which burns more fat in the process.

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Here are 3 reasons why Acetyl-L-Carnitine is trending as a fat-loss supplement:

Reason 1: A more bioavailable form of carnitine

ALCAR is a form of L-Carnitine, an amino acid that transports fatty acids into muscle cells where they are metabolised for energy within structures called mitochondria – the so-called metabolic powerhouses of our cells.

The benefits of an ALCAR supplement over an L-carnitine product relates to its bioavailability. ALCAR is more easily absorbed from the gut, more readily crosses the blood-brain barrier1, and performs a broader range of activities in the body. As such, ALCAR is considered a more potent alternative to L-Carnitine.

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Reason 2: Helps you produce more energy

Providing our bodies with additional bioavailable L-Carnitine from an ALCAR supplement can raise stores in the body, which may help convert stored and ingested fat into energy more effectively and efficiently. With more L-Carnitine available, we can generate more energy during exercise or sport.

And it appears that active individuals get more of a benefit than those who live a sedentary lifestyle. A small-scale study2 confirmed that: “Acute L-Carnitine supplementation possibly affects exercise performance and triglycerides in athletes rather than sedentary men.”

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Reason 3: Better body composition

When we increase our energy efficiency, we also have the potential to support fat loss to enhance your body composition.

While more research is needed to affirm the various touted benefits, clinical evidence already exists that supports certain claims.

For instance, a review3 of L-Carnitine conducted at Tufts University highlighted a range beneficial effects, with researchers stating: “Studies in older adults … showed that L-Carnitine intake can lead to increased muscle mass accompanied by a decrease in body weight and reduced physical and mental fatigue.”

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With such a broad range of benefits, a well-formulated, high quality supplement like Biogen Acetyl L-Carnitine may offer a smart way to improve fat loss, energy production and derive certain cognitive benefits.

References:

  1. Chapter Two – Metabolomics and Lipidomics of Ischemic Stroke. Advances in Clinical Chemistry, Volume 85, 2018, Pages 31-69
  2. Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Metabolic Utilization of Oxygen and Lipid Profile among Trained and Untrained Humans. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine: Vol.8, issue 1; e38707. Published Online: December 27, 2016
  3. L-Carnitine Supplementation in Recovery after Exercise. Nutrients. 2018 Mar; 10(3): 349. Published online 2018 Mar 13. doi: 10.3390/nu10030349