THE GOOD DIET AND ACETYL-L CARNITINE By Richard H

THE GOOD DIET AND ACETYL-L CARNITINE
By Richard H. Gravelly, D.C.

Most popular dietary advice in mainstream media tends to end with the statement: "Eat a balanced diet and use your common sense" For anything to make sense, information is needed. I offer here a few tidbits of information.

There are three types of food: protein, fat and carbohydrate. The body cannot manufacture the first two. It can manufacture the last one, carbohydrate out of either of the other two. "How is that?" you may ask. Often in many articles the words glucose and carbohydrate are used interchangeably. The reason is that the body uses almost one-hundred percent of all carbohydrates in the form of glucose. For the most part it cannot use any other form of carbohydrate. Protein is made from amino acids. Certain of the amino acids are known as glucogenic amino acids. They can be converted into glucose in the liver. They are preferred by the body for use as glucose producers to any form of carbohydrate you may eat, including, and especially glucose. Similarly, certain parts of the fat molecule is used for the
production of glucose. This is the glycerol portion of fat. The body will use these two foods, amino acids and fat, for the manufacture of glucose before it will use any form of ingested carbohydrate.

That having been said, it is clear that it is more important to get enough protein and fat than to ingest carbohydrate. As a matter of fact it has been pointed out by one researcher that glucoseof an exogenous or ingested nature is poison beyond a certain amount.

Let us consider the scientifically determined amont of protein an adult needs. According to the WHO of the United Nations, each adult requires 100 gms. (around a quarter of a pound) of high quality protein per day. A three quarter pound (300 gm) piece of top sirloin will give you approximately 30 gm of protein. This means that you need approximately 3lbs of top sirloin (or the equivalent) per day to get enough protein. You will also need approximately 3000 mg. of potassium. 1 kg (2.2 lbs) of top sirloin steak will give you approximately 1200 mg of potassium (sufficient potassium is necessary for proper heart function). What else can you eat to get enough postassium? One quart of 2% milk would give you 1500 mg of postassium. Seven cups of kidney beans will give you approximately 1500 mg of potassium.

Carnitine in the form of acetyl L-Carnitine.Carnitine is an amino acid that is in food, it is said. However, the amount is so small that it is not reported upon by the USDA data base. It is also synthesized by the body. According to one report, "The carnitine system is shown to be determinant in insulin regulation of fat and blucose metabolic rate in skeletal muscle, this being critical in determining body composition and relevant raised levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes (Acta Diabetol. 2003 Oct; suppl 1:S106-13).

Carnitine, according to (Nutrition. 2003 Nov-Dec;19(11-12):957-75) in an article "Brain-Specific" nutrients: a memory cure?), After examining phosphatidylserene(PS), phosphatidylcholine (PC), citicoline, piracetam, vinpocetine, acetyl L-Carnitine, (ALC) the report stated that "ALC participates in cellular energy production, a process especially important in neuroons, and in removal of toxic accumulation of fatty acids."

Carnitine in the form of acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) when compared with amantadine for the treatment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis showed that "ALCAR is better tolerated and more effective than amantadine for the treatment of MS-related fatigue."

Carnitine may have beneficial effect upon cardiac arrhythmias.

Carnitine, according to Cavallini G, et. al. in (Urology, 2004 Apr;63(4):641-6) Carnitines proved significantly more active than testosterone in improving nocturnal penile tumescence and International Index of Erectile Function score. Carnitine did not raise testosterone
levels; nor did it significantly modify prostate-specific antigen or prolactin.

Carnitine showed beneficial effect on fatigue and attntion concentration in chronic fatigue syndrome. Its main effect was on mental fatigue according to an original article by Ruud C.W. et. al. in (Psychosomatic Medicine 66:276-282 (2004).

Good Health!

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