Posted by Len ( Las Vegas, NV) on 07/10/2009
Can someone tell me the difference between L-carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine? I see there's a big difference in price. When clicking on L-carnitine under the supplements section here (on EC) I see people are talking about both as if they are one in the same and I know there not. Thanks-Len
Posted by Robin (Minneapolis, MN) on 06/06/2009
I tried 5htp a few times too, and I didn't feel too hot on it. Same for KavaKava and St.Johnswort. So for those having this same problem, you may want to try acetyl-l-carnitine instead. But it's not really for energy. But L-carnitine is great for the heart. It helps take the pressure off my chest. Won't entire keep things at bay (not a cureall) but helps tremendously. I can do a little more with my muscles too. The heart is a muscle. This is not a 'one thing' fixit. If you need l-carnitine, odds are you need a slew of other things too to get balanced. Deficiences this large don't happen all by their lonesome. Carnitine is also present in beef.
I have adrenal burnout, chronic fatigue, heart attack and obesity. Swelling due to tired organs doesn't help any either. Currently I am (thanks to this site!) planning to take some iodine products (along with necessary co-nutrients to avoid heart palpitations). Maybe then the swelling/circulation can be helped more. But really folks, l-carnitine has enabled me to go to work when maybe I should've been in the hospital. And I firmly believe there were days it just helped me to be alive the next morning. I take two 500mg capsules every night now. Also take vit. C (like at least 1gram/day). That is why dogs don't have arteriosclerosis -- their bodies make vit. C and ours does not. A good one is the powder in the packets that fizz in water(and not from the drugstore). Better than the sports drinks for you as it has other goodies too. Now. L-carnitine works. There is some made from N-Carnitine (not a good idea) and some that is L-carnitine from the start. Get the good one. And I have no idea how to tell them apart. That is the reason for difference in price. You ALWAYS pay for quality when it comes to supplements; but also for low quality too for brand names. So do some thinking instead of blindly trusting, ok? Take it always on empty stomach; it won't interfere with anything that I know of (I am not a dr.) because it is a protein that is in meat, but where they make it from I don't know. Acetyl-l-carnitine and l-carnitine are both good for your heart. I kept my ex-husb from dying taking a-l-c alone, so that aught to tell you how good they work. He took them when he was having a heart spell and he always said it made him feel better. Now that I am having the same problem, yep, it helps me too. BUT I found out also about l-carnitine, which is more specifically a heart helper (because the heart is a muscle).
Posted by Tess (Palm Beach, FL) on 11/10/2008
★★★★★
Dreaming Remedy:
I started taking L-Carnitine (among other supplements) recently and around the same time started to recollect my dreams, about 3-4 a night instead of 1 every once in a while. I didn't make the connection until I stopped the L-Carn last week and almost immediately stopped being able to recall any dreams. I started up again last night and was able to remember 3 dreams this morning. I take 1 TBL on an empty stomach 3x a day.
Posted by Shawn (Los Angeles, CA) on 10/12/2008
To Tina: Be careful you are not depleting your iron. Light colored stools are an indication of low iron.. A good way to bring that up is, a table spoon of molassas, or Colostrum.
Posted by Wendy (Plover, WI U.S.A) on 10/29/2007
★★★★☆
Celiac causes many health issues. Diabetes, fibromyalgia,blemishes, yeast, MS,attention deficient, lupus, cancer, eczema, psoriasis,low thyroid,arthritis,acid reflux and many more. Good Book- Dangerous Grains by Braly Diet- eating no dairy or grains, Vit B12 methycobalamin shot, Vit D3, HCl and enzymes with meals, dairy free acidophlus when stomach acid is low helps. I also did LDN. I don't like drugs but LDN helps since there is so much hidden dairy and gluten it is hard to avoid it. I take 41 vitamins since my intestines are not absorbing as much as they should right now.People do not see my MS. I take things to counteract it like coenzyme Q10, rhodiola,biotin, carnitine, acetyl carnitine which helps the mitochondria work better which also helps fibromyalagia people too. I take the good oils:fish oil, evening primrose oil, Krill oil,lecithin, phoshpadityl serine/DMAE.
Posted by Molly (Madison, USA) on 04/11/2008
★★★★★
"One time I purchased a bottle of 5-htp, and after taking one capsule morning & evening, just twice, I threw the bottle away. My reaction to 5-htp was horrific; upon further research I learned that high levels of serotonin are associated with SEVERE ANXIETY. I also read that the spice ginger is a serotonin antagonist, so I have a bottle on hand, just in case I ever feel so anxious ever again.
Then I read somewhere online that there is a set of people whose depression responds to Acetyl L-Carnitine, they said the depression lifted in these people when using 3-4 grams a day, and to take two grams of acetylcarnitine on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning.
This amino acid is the most amazing substance; I've never been able to take more than 2 grams per day - there is such great mental clarity, there is utter inability to be depressed, but there simultaneously is no euphoria - just calm lucid clarity. I've read that it assists the brain in making many different neurotransmitters - so it is not anything, not anything at all like 5-htp which floods the brain with serotonin - which, if you don't need it, might create severe anxiety.
Posted by Tina (Dartmouth, NH) on 10/08/2008
★★★★★
Dear Jane, wow! Thank you so much for suggesting L Carnitine. I immediately ordered some liquid, pharmaceutical grade after reading your post. (Is liquid better than powder?) You are absolutely right, it is the energizer bunny remedy, holy moly! I usually get super fatigued in the afternoon, but a tablespoon of L-C on an empty stomach 3x a day has stopped my desperate desire to take a long nap. Are there any side effects to taking this for long term? I have noticed (sorry to sound gross) that it turns my stools orange though! I don't eat red meat, so this amino might be fixing that...
Posted by Jane (Texas, U.S.A) on 09/21/2008
★★★★★
I just wanted to let you know that I after suffering from serious adrenal burnout and chronic fatigue and now found more energy by taking L-carnitine. I couldn't even get off the couch before and now I have 80% percent more energy. I also eventually added in q10 and that together with magnesium put me back to being the energizer bunny. I have read several times that people with CFS also have depleted L-carnitine. Hope this can help someone suffering from this horrible fatigue.
