Acetyl-L-Carnitine

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A few years ago there was a study that said Acetyl-L-Carnitine can help with autism symptoms. The function went something to the effect of L-Carnitine breaks down into components that can be made into the neurotransmitter gaba. It was stated that people with autism often have problems producing enough gaba so having these intermediary components would help skip over the metabolic pathways that don't work efficiently.

My son takes Acetyl-L-Carnitine daily and he feels far calmer. When I took it, my wife said I was much more tolerable. Unfortunately supplements get expensive so I usually get it in my energy drinks. When I drink regular energy drinks I just feel energetic. When I drink the one that has Acetyl-L-Carnitine in it, I feel calmer.

What do you think? Placebo effect? Just more energy to handle situations?

The studies I saw were both inconclusive. Carnitine does have a role in fat-burning for energy consumption though. (maybe a little more energy is beneficial to mood?) The latest Egyptian Study Published in the Journal of Autism Spectrum Disorders, only followed 15 people for 6 months. Even in that study they only monitored carnitine levels in each active participant, and found no direct correlation between carnitine levels and CARS Scores (child autism raying scale).

As long as you aren't taking excessive amounts, or experiencing the numerous side-effects (namely gastro-intestinal, Seizures, thyroid issues) and are not taking anti-depressants (Specifically an SSRI - Taking carnatine with an SSRI can cause heart problems, seizures and carries an increased risk of stroke). I doubt it will kill you, but its probably a mild or placebo effect at best.

(if your son has been taking carnitine regularly, it might be a good idea to monitor thyroid function)

Last edited by DanielW on 20 Apr 2023, 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I take NAC supplements at night.
Is that the same?

Also take Zolpidem which has something to do with GABA.

NAC is acetyl cysteine - a different thing
(and NAC and Zolpedem aren't known to have negative interactions, as far as I know)

The most helpful thing I take is a methyl-B complex and Omega 3 fish oil.
I notice a HUGE change in my thinking with the fish oil.

In what way?

I can almost think a complete, linear thought when I take it. ^

There are three compared studies in this paper, are these the ones you saw? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930613/

I found similar improvement after taking creatine

It’s been proven to improve cognitive function but may be bad long term for your kidneys.

Then it Stopped working as well I still take it for short bursts over a few days before a special occasion

I wouldn’t recommend long term use though for reasons given

I saw one of those, yes (you'll note that BOTH of those studies were Small, Short-term and also found no correlation between carnitine levels and CARS Scores) While all of the studies suggest further research (which is a good idea) There have been no studies of the harmful effects caused by the long-term use of carnitine - especially in children.

Both of those studies also fail to quantify the subjective "improvements" in ASD symptoms. Also, I'm not sure if bathing twice a day in fisherman's soap to reduce skin odor is going to help with socialization-related issues. What kid with sensory issues wants to go around smelling like rotten fish? Will that really improve positive social interactions with their peers? I doubt it.

In every study, those who dropped out due to gastro-intestinal issues, and severe headaches probably don't see a net benefit either.

On the whole, I don't think the minor temporary gains that may or may not be caused by carnatine are worth excluding someone from taking SSRI's and/or tri-cyclic anti-depressants is worth it, but that's something to consider on a case by case basis.

Well they were taking HUGE amounts of it. My son is an adult so he would have to take 14 grams a day to dose the way they were. 1.5-3 grams is usually considered safe for years at a time and he's taking 500 mg. Not saying there couldn't be downsides. Any supplement can be harmful in the wrong person or wrong dose.

As of now though, I had a conversation with him this morning about it, he feels it makes a large effect on his mood and thinking ability. Honestly other people can notice when he forgets to take a dose.

Skepticism is fine and often warranted, but L-carnatine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine occur naturally in the body due to metabolic processes so I see this as a lower risk aid.

Is it related to creatinine?

Sorry, not up to doing a deep dive on my own.

It travels in the similar circles in the metabolism, but the two substances don't seem to convert into each other. They're both used in metabolism, so it's possible they could effect someone in vaguely similar ways, but IDK.

Thanks.

My daughter has Lupus Nephritis so we always have to monitor her creatinine (wanting it to be low).
I have bad kidney function too although my levels aren't as high as hers.

We need to avoid anything that hurts or potentially hurts kidneys.

According to this, it helps with kidney function. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/13/2/298
Still, if you're dealing with kidneys, you don't want to assume. I'd talk to your doctor about any supplements you're thinking of taking. If they say it's okay, they know your situation better than I would.

She's on a lot of meds including Plaquenil and Imuran.
We see her specialist in a couple of weeks so I'll definitely report back about what they say.
Now I'm curious.