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Acetyl-l-Carnitine: Cellular Energy Support

by Jaime Keiller

In this blog, we talk about the different nutrients like acetyl-l-carnitine to help support cellular energy production‡

I’m With You!

Let’s be honest, I think we all could benefit from encouraging our baseline cellular energy, am I right or what? I mean, life can be demanding, and it can seem like no matter what we do, we don’t seem to have the same cellular energy stores we once had when we were younger. You may be finding yourself reaching for that second or third cup of coffee to help fight off that 2 o’clock slump and just keep your eyes open and yourself going through your busy day. Well, I think it’s time we discuss how certain science-backed nutrients, like acetyl-l-carnitine, may help us support our cellular energy. ‡

Back to Basics

We are going to take a second here and travel back in time for a bit. Remember, what was it, like the 7th grade when we started learning about the human body and that we are made up of billions of these tiny little things called cells? I can still hear my 7th grade teacher saying to me, “The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell.” Now it’s my turn to share some helpful powerhouse nutrients that help support cellular energy! ‡

  • Mitochondria and its counterparts help create energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which acts as a form of energy currency for the body.1
  • Our Mitochondria-ATP contains a blend of CoQ10, Ubiquinol, B vitamins – which help support the body’s way of making energy through the Kreb’s cycle. Herbal ingredients like resveratrol, grape seed extract and NAC to help neutralize the free radicals generated during energy production by the mitochondria. ‡
  • In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, the combination of creatine, CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid supported energy production and antioxidant status within the mitochondria.2‡
  • Acetyl-l-carnitine provides carnitine to transport long chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy as well as an acetyl group for the synthesis of the Kreb’s cycle precursor acetyl-CoA.1‡
  • Creatine serves as an ATP precursor, promoting ATP synthesis and performance in working muscle. Research indicates that low doses of creatine promote ATP production.3‡

Without the basic support of our mitochondria, we wouldn’t have the energy currency, or ATP, we need to generate energy naturally. Why wouldn’t we want to support our body’s natural processes?

Take a Deep Dive!

Want to get more scientific? We are going to time warp from the 7th grade to my sophomore year of high school and talk about the benefits of CoQ10:

  • CoQ10, or coenzyme Q10, is a core component of cellular energy production and mitochondrial respiration, shuttling electrons down the electron transport chain to produce the key energy-rich molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP).4‡
  • CoQ10 provides energy support to the cells of the body and is especially supportive of tissues that require a lot of energy, such as the heart muscle.5 ‡
  • CoQ10 also acts as an antioxidant, providing cellular protection from free radicals.6‡
  • Ubiquinol is the activated form of CoQ10 and may be especially important for individuals over 40 or for those experiencing greater levels of oxidative or physical stress.‡

Now, if you’re looking for something different…We’ve got you covered with a sustained release CoQ10 for promoting mitochondrial health and PPQ for supporting cardiovascular health and neuroprotection.‡

Time to Level Up

Now that we’ve officially covered the basics, let’s take a trip to my high school gym class. A jolt of energy might’ve been what I needed to get myself in the gymnasium on-time, but stamina kept me there, made me keep going and was just what I needed to optimize my actual usage of energy.

  • Replenishing your electrolyte/energy stores with important electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium may be helpful after exercising as so much of our electrolytes are lost during exercise.7
  • Our Electrolyte/Energy Formula provides glucose, important sources of rapidly available energy that spare glycogen stores and delay fatigue.8‡
  • Contains the energy metabolites malic acid and alpha ketoglutarate, both Krebs cycle intermediates.9

Plus, this formula is ideally suited for strenuous or prolonged exercise at least 1-2 hours in length and may help support your stamina. ‡

Nutritional Biochemistry, Anyone?

Now, let’s fast-forward to my Senior year of college and my Nutrition Biochemistry class. I remember sitting in the Davis Auditorium at the University of Vermont learning about components found naturally in our bodies and in the foods we eat. Of particular importance are L-Carnitine and acetyl-L-Carnitine, which help the body produce energy from fats. Acetyl-L-carnitine has the added benefits of supporting memory, emotional health and cognitive function.‡

  • Acetyl-l-Carnitine is the acetylated form of l-carnitine. The two compounds share functions in cellular energy production. Found naturally in the body, acetyl-l-carnitine supports the availability of acetyl-CoA, an important energy generating metabolite.10‡
  • Acetyl-l-Carnitine supports proper mitochondrial function and cell membrane stability.‡

Plus, acetyl-l-carnitine has been shown to support cognitive benefits too! In a clinical trial, studying the effect of acetyl-l-carnitine on the elderly, acetyl-l-carnitine demonstrated the ability to support memory and attention.11‡

Bring it on Home!

Graduation day is upon us and we have made it to the homestretch! Now I get to share with you all the active ways you may incorporate these helpful nutrients, like acetyl-l-carnitine and many more to help support your cellular energy. You get to choose which is right for you and your health journey, here: https://smartq.pureforyou.com/collections/energy-fitness. Small steps in the right direction may just help you fight off that craving for your third cup of coffee and help stay energized longer. Wouldn’t that be great?

  1. Zhang ZY, Fan ZK, Cao Y, et. Al. Neurosci Lett. 2015 Sep 14;604:18-23.
  2. Rodriguez MC, MacDonald, JR, Mahoney DJ, et. al. Muscle Nerve. 2007 Feb; 35(2):235-42
  3. Golini J. J of Pharm, Phyto and Ethno Online. 2015. 1; 20-22.
  4. Kumar A, et al. Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Dec;124(3):259-68.
  5. Soja AM, et al. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18 Suppl: S159-68
  6. Lee BJ, et al. Nutr J. 2013 Nov 6;12(1):142
  7. Sun FH, et al. 2015 May 15;7(5):3739-50.
  8. Coyle EF, et al. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1983 Jul;55(1 Pt 1):230-5.
  9. Kurhaliuk NM. Fiziol Zh. 2000;46(4):88-95. (animal)
  10. Kerner J, Yohannes E, Lee K, et. Al. Mech Ageing Dev. 2015 Jan;145:39-50.
  11. Spagnoli A, Lucca U, Menasce G, et al. Neurology. 1991 Nov;41(11):1726-32.
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