Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Neuropathy suppressed by acetyl-L-carnitine

Since the mid-1990s research groups in Italy have been studying the use of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) to prevent or treat nerve damage, especially that caused by certain AIDS drugs. Recent research studies have now shown that ALC is effective in treating diabetic neuropathy and in preventing neuropathy caused by anti-cancer drugs such as paclitaxel and cisplatin.

In the diabetic neuropathy study 333 patients with existing nerve damage were given either ALC or a placebo. After 12 months of treatment, 39% of those treated with ALC had significantly reduced pain scores (compared with 8% for the placebo group). Nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes were also improved. This study used ALC in injected form, perhaps to avoid bioavailability inequalities which could complicate the statistical analysis. There is no reason to think that ALC would not have similar effects if taken orally.

In the paclitaxel/cisplatin study rats with various types of cancer tumors were treated with anti-cancer drugs; some rats were simultaneously treated with ALC while others were not. Those treated with ALC showed increased levels of Nerve Growth Factor and significantly less drug-induced nerve damage as compared with those not treated with ALC. Furthermore, ALC treatment did not interfere with the effectiveness of the drugs in treating the cancer tumors.

Link to diabetic neuropathy study:

Acetyl-L-carnitine (levacecarnine) in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. A long-term, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Link to anti-cancer drug study:

Paclitaxel and Cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity: a protective role of acetyl-L-carnitine.

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Since ALC promotes the metabolism of fats, it should be used in combination with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid in order to neutralize the free radicals that always result from fat and sugar metabolism.

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LifeLink carries acetyl-L-carnitine in 500 mg capsules.

LifeLink carries alpha-lipoic-acid in both the R-form (as 100 mg capsules) and as the mixed isomers (in 100 mg and 250 mg capsules).