LONGECITY

I read a number of times that acetylcarnitine should be taken along with alpha lipoic acid, but I can't find an explanation as to why these should be combined. Does ALA have some kind of synergistic effects when taken with ALCAR?

I also read once that ALCAR should be taken with fish oil, it was something about it being absorbed better. I can't find the article I read that in. Does ALCAR get absorbed better when taken with omega fatty acids?

Because the original experiments on rodents were performed with ALCAR doses that were too high, causing oxidative damage that was mitigated by ALA. Later dose-ranging experiments found that lower doses of ALCAR actually worked better than higher doses for mitochondrial rejuvenation without the need to co-supplement with ALA.

All this has been discussed in detail in some older threads on this forum.
Edited by nowayout, 10 November 2013 - 02:18 PM.

As nowayout correctly points out, you don't need to take ALA with ALCAR. ALA can still be useful on its own for a variety of reasons, and may be useful with ALCAR. If you tend toward low blood sugar, you may want to skip it, as it can lower blood sugar. A low dose of fish oil is a good idea for just about everyone, but taking ALCAR doesn't create any special need for it, beyond the need that our typically-inadequate diets create.
Edited by niner, 12 November 2013 - 12:17 PM.

I thought ALCAR is an antioxidant. Thanks for the info.

Well, ALCAR and ALA do work synergistically. A hallmark of aging is decreased mitochondrial function while at the same time ROS production becomes increased. ALCAR increases mitochondrial capacity and ALA decreases ROS, so they complement each other to provide a rejuvenating effect on the mitochondria. The reasoning Ames etl al. initially had for supplementing ALA together with ALCAR has been the concern that ALCAR would increase ROS to an even greater extend, but later studies have shown that this doesn't seem to be the case. Consequently, you don't necessarily need to take ALA together wit ALCAR but they make a good team nontheless.
Edited by timar, 12 November 2013 - 05:27 PM.