Comment · Wed, May 8, 2013
What does ALCAR do?
Original post in this thread
Reclaimerr · 8 points
I've been reading some posts about ALCAR and how it gives energy and stuff, but what else does it do, if anything, and how much should I take? I'm 6'1 190 pounds male, my current stack is this:
1400mg piracetam 3 times a day
200 mg caffeine + 200 mg l-theanine 2 breakfast/lunch. I might get off this because I feel nothing from it now.
5 g creatine breakfast
250 mg pills of Omega 3, 3 times a day, 750 mg total.
What they were answering
[deleted] · 4 points
Let me preface this by saying I am not the strongest when it comes to chemistry, so anyone who wants to correct me should feel free:
As far as I understand it, the Acetyl group that is added to make L-Carnitine into ALCAR allows it greater bioavailability and greater ability to cross the Blood-Brain Barrier making it more valuable in its Nootropic form, whereas the L-Carnitine version is meant more for cardio health.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Correct. The acetyl group allows for active transport of L-carnitine, which then donates the group for other syntheses once past the BBB. Normal L-carnitine cannot pass the blood brain barrier as easily, and cannot enter cells through the lipid membranes. L-carnitine also cannot help metabolize carbohydrates via the Kreb cycle unless there is an acetyl group.
Basically ALCAR is a much better supplement due to it's higher bioavailability, ability to permeate lipid membranes like the BBB and cell walls, it's ability to facilitate carbohydrate metabolism, and it's ability to donate acetyl groups for neurotransmitter production.