POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: rubbaducki on March 24, 2009, 01:29:51 pm
-
Hello
Anyone know the difference between "N-Acetyl L-Carnitine" and just "L-Carnitine"? Tried looking online and I cant find anything!!!
Thanks in advance!
Rubbaducki x
-
Hey Rubbaducki,
Here is some information I found.
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.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcarnitine
-
Thanks for your reply
Going by that then its probably better to take the L-Carnitine rather than the latter. That way more will be absorbed? Is that right?!!!! lol
Any idea what the "N" stand for in "N-Acetyl L-Carnitine" This is the question that no one seems to know and I cant fins any info on the web
Thanks again xx
-
Maybe the CATIE supplement fact sheets can sort you out:
http://www.catie.ca/supple-e.nsf/supplement+sheets
I found all the basic information well done here.
By the way, I never heard of N-Acetyl L-Carnitine
Have you invented this, confusing it for ---- NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) ?
Happy reading
-
Hey Mecch,
Thanks for the site. It had a lot of interesting information.
HUGS,
Mark
-
N-Acetyl L- Carnitine is the ester form (like ester C ) of L-Carnitine. It can cross the blood brain barrier:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:dd0JNGWBHgwJ:www.progressivelabs.com/documents/N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine.pdf+n-acetyl+l+carnitine&cd=83&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
-
WOO HOO. thanks everyone. almost there!
So, which would be the best to take, or do you think it makes no difference?
-
I have been taking L Carnitine because that is what I have been able to find.
HUGS,
Mark
-
Mark,
I have been taking L Carnitine because that is what I have been able to find.
HUGS,
Mark
I don't know about N-acetyl, but the acetyl form of l-carnitine is fairly easy to find.
Brands like Doctor's Best, Now foods, Jarrow, Country Life, Source Naturals, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe all sell acetyl l-carnitine.
I have been taking 1 to 2 of them a day, Now food brand capsules, 500mg. This year I decided to go for a single 750mg tablet, also by Now foods.
-
Additional reasons to think about L-Carnitine and Acetyl L-carnitine:
http://www.thebody.com/content/art53900.html
v
-
Mark,
I don't know about N-acetyl, but the acetyl form of l-carnitine is fairly easy to find.
Brands like Doctor's Best, Now foods, Jarrow, Country Life, Source Naturals, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe all sell acetyl l-carnitine.
I have been taking 1 to 2 of them a day, Now food brand capsules, 500mg. This year I decided to go for a single 750mg tablet, also by Now foods.
I take the Acetyl L-Carnitine specifically because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. I *do* feel better when I take it. And particularly when I take it and L-Tyrosine at the same time.
-
I take the Acetyl L-Carnitine specifically because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. I *do* feel better when I take it. And particularly when I take it and L-Tyrosine at the same time.
I'm glad the Acetyl L-Carnitine is working for you. I take it but still forgot stuff all the....wait, was I saying something?
-
K good so I'm not the only person that's forgeting?? Is it HIV dementia? Is there anything else that helps the ole noggin? That seems to be the hardest thing to deal with... Kinda forgot the topic... I'm just going to crawl up in a ball and cry and hopefully remember what I was crying about ;-))
-
I take Acetyl L Carnitine twice daily. Label says take on empty stomach... which is different than about every other supplement (glutamine also on empty stomach).
I haven't noticed any memory improvement with it. My memory is best when my Sustiva levels are lowest. I believe that drug "dumbs you down." At the end of the day, I can literally feel my brain waking up from the fog, just in time to take another tablet and plunge right back in.
-
Interesting that I just found this thread. My Doctor just gave me a prescription for "Carnitine 250 MG Oral capsule", # 240 capsules per month/ 6 refills/ take 4 capsules every 12 hours to aid in nerve damage repair. The pharmacy didn't have it and said they would have to order it. I found several different versions, Acetyl, N Acetyl, L- Carnitine, etc. at GNC , Walgreens, etc. but at that rate taking pills it was going to cost me $145.00 to $255.00 per month, plus I am very confused about the different types . I just plain don't have that kind of $. Hope the insurance will pay for what the pharmacy gets.
-
Interesting that I just found this thread. My Doctor just gave me a prescription for "Carnitine 250 MG Oral capsule", # 240 capsules per month/ 6 refills/ take 4 capsules every 12 hours to aid in nerve damage repair. The pharmacy didn't have it and said they would have to order it. I found several different versions, Acetyl, N Acetyl, L- Carnitine, etc. at GNC , Walgreens, etc. but at that rate taking pills it was going to cost me $145.00 to $255.00 per month, plus I am very confused about the different types . I just plain don't have that kind of $. Hope the insurance will pay for what the pharmacy gets.
1) to reduce cost, order online, don't buy at GNC or Walgreen's
2) 250mg is too little potency per tablet. Your doc prescribed 4 capsules of 250mg every 12 hours. That's the equivalent of 1g every 12 hours, or 2g a day. Get something higher potency than 250. There are many carnitine supplements available with 500mg or more per capsule/tablet. By reducing the pill count, you also reduce cost. You can still keep approximately the same prescribed dosage, with just fewer pills, and it will cost much less.
The supplement I take is NOW 750mg acetyl l-carnitine. You can buy it from iherb.com
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Acetyl-L-Carnitine-750-mg-90-Tablets/6110?at=0
It's $25.18 for 90 tablets of 750mg. For a month of 31 days, you need 31x2 = 62g.
One bottle of 90 tablets is 90x0.750 = 67.5 g
So, the $25.18 buys you enough acetyl l-carnitine for one month.
You could take 3 tablets of 750 a day - 1 tablet every 8 hours. This will give you 2250mg a day, which will be slightly more than the 2g prescribed, but close enough.
Or, if you want to take only 2 doses, every 12 hours as prescribed, you can cut some of the pills in half, and take 1.5 pill in the morning, and 1.5 pills in the evening. Again it yields 2250mg/day.
Check with your doc, but I think going 10% over is OK. The studies on this supplement (see links below) were with much larger doses, 6g/day.
FYI, I only take one 750mg tablet per day, but I don't have any nerve damage or neuropathy to speak of, I just decided to use it in this low dose, with my doc's approval, after the research I read.
3) only your doc can clarify the best form of carnitine for you to take. I think acetyl l-carnitine is a very good form, and that's what I take. But you may want to read the following article :
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_April/ai_84211153/?tag=content;col1
In particular, read pages 8 and 9 :
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_April/ai_84211153/pg_8/?tag=content;col1
These are pretty small studies unfortunately. But better than nothing.
-
madbrain, thanks for your reply. :) You went to a lot of effort and I appreciate it. I'll find out if that thieveing United Healthcare/Golden Rule insurance company will pay for it Monday. If not you have given me a very viable option. Considering their recent denials for coverage and their paying 1/3 claiming excessive charges for expenses for my latest surgery, I'd say your assistance here is exactly the kind of help I needed. Taking 15 meds now. I told my wife that one of these days she is going to come home and find me fizzing like a shook up soda. :) I am a walking laboratory beaker about to blow.
-
It seems to give me a lot of energy and has helped improved my ability to lift weights. I am unsure if this is the placebo effect or if it is working. Personally, I am just glad because I feel better but this stuff is expensive.
Like many of us, I feel like I am a walking Walgreen's Pharmacy.
olic Acid 1 mg TAB 2 TABS BID
Tricor 160 mg TAB 1 TAB at HS
Actos 30 mg TAB 1 TAB at HS
Monopril 10 mg TAB 1 TAB DAILY
Indapamide 2.5 mg TAB 1 TAB DAILY
Aspirin 80 mg TAB 1 TAB at HS
Naproxen 500 mg TAB 1 TAB BID
Wellbutrin XL 150 mg TAB 3 TABS DAILY
Truvada 200/300 mg TAB 1 TAB DAILY
Reyataz 300 mg CAP 1 CAP DAILY
Norvir 100 mg CAP 1 CAP DAILY
Valtrex 500 mg TAB 1 TAB at HS
Claritin 10 mg TAB 1 TAB DAILY
Neurontin 600 mg 1 TAB 4 times per day
Besides Metabolic problems related to HIV, I have a very bad back (two ruptured discs, arthritis in the spine, sciatica, and I have violent urges when people argue against National Health Care!!!!!