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# This ingredient found in meat helps Alzheimer's disease
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/acetyl-l-carnitine_helps_alzheimer_s_disease_0414120525/
- Published: 2012-04-14T18:23:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:12:26.000Z
- Description: Rats given homocystine to mimic Alzheimer's changes had less tau hyperphosphorylation and beta-amyloid accumulation and fewer memory deficits when fed acetyl-L-carnitine, a Rejuvenation Research study reports. The researchers call it a promising protective agent.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, Alzheimer's, Carnitine, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Saturday April 14, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking acetyl-L-carnitine supplements may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study released in the Dec. 2011 issue of Rejuvenation Research.

The study led by P. Zhou and colleagues from Huazhong University of Sciene and Technology in Wuhan, China showed that supplementation of acetyl-L-carnitine could improve the homocystine-induced memory deficits by reducing tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ accumulation.

Hyperhomocystinemia, that is, too much of homocystine in the blood, could induce tau protein hyperphosphorylation, β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, and memory deficits, which are commonly seen in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common senile dementia which does not have a cure. 

For the study, the researchers injected homocystine in rats that are prone to developing Alzheimer's disease, to induce hyperhomocysteinemia and at the same time, the animals were fed supplements of acetyl-L-carnitine.

Supplementation of acetyl-L-carnitine almost abolished the Hcy-induced tau hyperphosphorylation at multiple AD-related sites and also suppressed the phosphorylation of β-amyloid precursor proteins (APP), which may underlie the reduction of β-amyloid, the researchers reported.

The findings suggest acetyl-L-carnitine could be a promising protectative agent against Alzheimer's disease.

An estimated 5 million men and women in the United States live with Alzheimer's disease.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is known to be good for heart conditions including angina, heart attack, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, exercise performance, weight loss, Alzheimer's disease and memory impairment, kidney disease and dialysis, male infertility, erectile dysfunction, peyronie's disease, and hyperthyroidism.

Carnitine is found in red meat and dairy products. It is also found in fish, poultry, tempeh, wheat, asparagus, avocados and peanut better.