Study summary · research use only
L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-carnitine Roles and Neuroprotection in Developing Brain
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review article discusses L-carnitine, which transports long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs into mitochondria for oxidation, and its acetylated derivative acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), covering evidence from preclinical studies on their roles in energy metabolism and neuroprotection after brain injury, including hypoxia-ischemia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and central or peripheral nervous system injury. The abstract describes ALCAR as an acetyl donor usable for energy oxidation, as a precursor for acetylcholine, and as an input for glutamate, glutamine, GABA, and myelination-related lipid synthesis. In rat pups, administration of ALCAR after brain injury was associated with improved long-term functional outcomes, including memory. The authors state that additional studies are needed to further explore L-carnitine and ALCAR for protection of the developing brain.
Abstract
L-Carnitine functions to transport long chain fatty acyl-CoAs into the mitochondria for degradation by β-oxidation. Treatment with L-carnitine can ameliorate metabolic imbalances in many inborn errors of metabolism. In recent years there has been considerable interest in the therapeutic potential of L-carnitine and its acetylated derivative acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) for neuroprotection in a number of disorders including hypoxia-ischemia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease and in conditions leading to central or peripheral nervous system injury. There is compelling evidence from preclinical studies that L-carnitine and ALCAR can improve energy status, decrease oxidative stress and prevent subsequent cell death in models of adult, neonatal and pediatric brain injury. ALCAR can provide an acetyl moiety that can be oxidized for energy, used as a precursor for acetylcholine, or incorporated into glutamate, glutamine and GABA, or into lipids for myelination and cell growth. Administration of ALCAR after brain injury in rat pups improved long-term functional outcomes, including memory. Additional studies are needed to better explore the potential of L-carnitine and ALCAR for protection of developing brain as there is an urgent need for therapies that can improve outcome after neonatal and pediatric brain injury.
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