Does anyone have any experience supplimenting with L-carnitine? I've read that it is important for vegetarians to suppliment with it, that it helps with fat loss on a LC diet, and that it helps supress appitite. But I've also read that you produce your own, and even vegans typically have blood levels of it only 10% lower than meat eaters. I'm giving it a try for a month, starting at 500mg a day and increasing up to 3000mg/day.

I have not seen any research to support these claims. However, acetyl-l-carnitine has numerous benefits most especially related to brain health and anti-aging. Here's a research summary from http://www.gettingwell.com/drug_info/index.html

Several studies have now demonstrated some positive effects of acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation in Alzheimer's patients especially with regard to tasks involving attention and concentration. In a double-blind, parallel design, placebo-controlled pilot study of 30 patients whose mild-to-moderate dementias were believed to be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, there were significant, positive results as measured by some of the neuropsychological tests used in the study.

In another early double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 130 patients with clinical diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, a slower rate of deterioration was observed in 13 of 14 outcome measures at the end of this one-year study. Some of these measures reached statistical significance, including measures of logical intelligence, long-term verbal memory and selective attention.

More recent studies continue to show beneficial effects in Alzheimer's disease. Younger patients seem to benefit most.

It has been suggested that cognitive function may be improved in subjects with Alzheimer's disease by acetyl-L-carnitine's hypothesized ability to inhibit apoptosis of cerebral nerve cells.

Significant improvement in visual memory and attention in Down's syndrome subjects treated with acetyl-L-carnitine has also been reported. These researchers hypothesized that acetyl-L-carnitine's positive actions in both Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome result from its direct and indirect cholinomimetic effects.

There is also preliminary evidence that acetyl-L-carnitine can slow mental decline in the elderly who are not afflicted with dementias.

Neuroprotective effects of acetyl-L-carnitine have been reported after stroke in both animal models and in humans. Cerebral blood flow reportedly improves in acetyl-L-carnitine treated subjects with cerebrovascular disease.

Peripheral nerve function has been improved with the use of acetyl-L-carnitine in experimental diabetes. There is also early clinical evidence that acetyl-L-carnitine may be helpful in various peripheral neuropathies, and it has been suggested that this supplement might be helpful in alleviating the neurotoxicity associated with the nucleoside analogues used in the treatment of AIDS. This latter hypothesis has yet to be tested.

There is some evidence in animal work that acetyl-L-carnitine might have anti-aging effects. Mitochondrial function and ambulatory activity were assessed in a study of old rats fed acetyl-L-carnitine. Ambulatory activity was significantly increased in the old rats, and an examination of liver cells in the treated animals showed a significant reversal of age-associated decline of mitochondrial membrane potential. Cardiolipin, which declines with age, was significantly restored.

Finally, acetyl-L-carnitine has been reported to increase sperm motility in vitro, and in one human trial, 4 grams daily of this substance given to 20 oligoasthenospermic men, produced increased progressive sperm motility which was associated with a greater number of pregnancies.

Hi,

I have been taking L-Carnitine for a couple of months now. It was prescribed to me by a holistic Physician for memory problems (due to Fibromyalgia Syndrome). It seems to have helped a bunch, but I haven't really noticed anything else.
Just thought I'd share.
Thanks for the additional info about it, I'll pay attention & see if I notice anything else!