Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC, acetyllevocarnitine) is the naturally occurring acetyl ester of L-carnitine and is the delivery form for both L-carnitine and acetyl groups. Carnitine is an amino acid required for normal healthy lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. It is concentrated in cardiac and skeletal cells where it helps deliver fatty acids into mitochondria for cellular energy production. High concentrations are also found in the male reproductive tract and the brain. When acetylated in the form of ALC, it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to support neuronal energetics and repair mechanisms while modifying acetylcholine production in the central nervous system (CNS).
