As we embark on our journey into Mitochondrial Support nutrients, our first stop, like the alphabet start with the Letter A as in Acetyl L Carnitine. Like many things we will discuss over the next few months, Acetyl L Carnitine (ALC) is a key component to increasing ATP production, or cellular fuel, particularly in our brain cells. Another key mechanism is by increasing production of Acetylcholine while at the same time lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Because of this, Acetyl L Carnitine is a common ingredient is numerous supplement brand offerings of Cognitive enhancement support products on today’s market. I will often recommend this a starting point when customers ask about brain fog, memory or recall issues or looking for something to make them sharper as it’s a great starting point for a few months to determine efficacy. When dealing with the brain tissue, it always seems to take longer than we would otherwise think so 8-12 weeks is a common proving ground for me. As it’s a fat-soluble compound like Vitamin D3, it is best taken with food usually twice daily. In addition, there are not many interactions with medications, which makes it a relatively safe option especially with elderly people who often are prescribed multiple prescription meds.