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NOW Foods
Empowering People to Lead Healthier Lives

Acetyl-L Carnitine 500 Mg
by NOW Foods
200 Capsules

Transports Fatty Acids & Boosts Cellular Energy*

Our Price: $42.55
Retail Price: $69.99
You Save: $27.44 each, a 39% Savings!

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a modified amino acid that supports cellular energy production by assisting in the transport of fat into the mitochondria, where it is oxidized and converted into ATP (chemical energy for the cell). Acetyl L-Carnitine is in a highly bioavailable form of L-Carnitine that can cross the blood-brain barrier, where it exerts an antioxidant effect, helps to maintain healthy cellular energy metabolism and supports brain function.*

Supplement Facts Serving Size: One (1) Capsule Servings Per Container: 200

	Amount Per Serving	Daily Value
Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl (L-Carnipure)	500 mg	**

NOW Acetyl-L-Carnitine is Pharmaceutical Grade (USP). L-Carnipure is a registered trademark of Lonza, Ltd.

** Daily Value Not Established. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Other Ingredients

Cellulose, Gelatin Capsule, Magnesium Stearate (Vegetable Source), Stearic Acid (Vegetable Source)

Suggested Use

As a dietary supplement, one (1) capsule, one to three times (1-3x) daily, or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Allergen Info

This product contains NO sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.

Applicable Functions

Brain Chemistry, Cell Vitality, Cerebral Stability, Fatty Liver

Related Structure Groups

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), Amino Acids, Fat, Mitochondria

Carnitine FAQ's

What is Carnitine and where does it come from?

Carnitine is classified as an amino acid, although it is not an amino acid in the classic sense. Amino acids are generally used by the body for protein synthesis and/or as a neurotransmitter. Carnitine, which is closely related to B vitamins, is primarily used to facilitate the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells for energy production. This process provides muscular energy by burning fat, and also prevents fatty build-up around vital organs. Muscle cells that use the most energy, particularly the heart, can benefit by having adequate carnitine levels.

Natural Carnitine is found primarily in red meat, so vegetarians may need to supplement to ensure healthy levels in their bodies. Our Carnitine is natural form product, synthesized in a laboratory by bacterial cultures, and is vegetarian due to the absence of any animal sources or by-products. NOW carnitine products are in the same form found in nature, L-Carnitine, with no detectable levels of synthetic D-Carnitine.

L-Carnitine Testing and Purity

From NOW Research & Development, March 6, 2006

L-Carnitine is a vitamin-like amino acid derivative. It plays an important role for maintaining energy production by transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix to be burned for energy. This function supports physical performance and weight management. Therefore, L-Carnitine and its esters, such as Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Propionyl-L-Carnitine, have received growing attentions for their uses in cardiovascular and neurological health.

L-Carnitine, along with its natural ester acylcarnitine, forms a critical part of the endogenous (natural to the body) carnitine pool in various tissues of mammals. The total L-Carnitine in the human body is about 20 g, in which 98% is present in the skeletal and cardiac tissues, 1.4% in the liver and kidneys and 0.6% in extracellular fluids and other tissues. Of all these carnitine pools in the human body, about 25% are produced from the amino acids lysine and methionine and about 75% is derived directly from dietary sources such as meat, poultry, fish, and milk (with small amounts in wheat and avocados). Therefore, people with a limited diet of meat and dairy products tend to have lower L-Carnitine intakes.

L-Carnitine is a “conditionally essential” nutrient and a rare genetic disorder of L-carnitine metabolism causes carnitine deficiency, which is known to have major deleterious effects on the central nervous system. The limited intake of L-Carnitine can cause toxic accumulations of free fatty acids and the loss of energy. L-Carnitine is used worldwide as an effective treatment for carnitine deficiency and also has various nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. Several oral formulations, such as liquids,tablets and capsules, are available in the current market. NOW FOODS carries several L-Carnitine formulas and also carries Acetyl-L-Carnitine.

Since L-Carnitine powder is hygroscopic (water absorbing) and rapidly liquefies when it is exposed to air, NOW FOODS uses L-Carnitine-L-Tartrate, a stabilized form of L-Carnitine, in our formulas to offer our customers the full potency in stable products. Watch also for special moisture absorbing packets in some carnitine packages; keep these in the bottles until the product is all used.

L-Carnitine has a sister form, D-Carnitine, which may be formed as an impurity when producing the natural “L form”. The “D form” may have considerable side effects or even toxic influences on biochemical processes because it may inhibit an enzyme called carnitine acetyl transferase, leading to a depletion of the body’s L-Carnitine reserves.

Separation and determination of any undesirable D-Carnitine is important to maintain the quality of our nutritional formulations and assure their proper function and safety. To maintain the quality of our products, NOW FOODS is developing an HPLC testing method for simultaneous separation of L-Carnitine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine and various impurities, which include D-forms and crotonoylbetain. The content of D-Carnitine allowed in the European Pharmacopoeia and United States Pharmacopoeia is limited to about 4%. Our HPLC method has high sensitivity and selectivity and allows the detection of an impurity in the D-form at less than 0.5%. By using this new method to test the potency and verify the purity of our L-Carnitine products, NOW FOODS ensures the best quality of L-Carnitine products for our customers, while avoiding potentially harmful impurities.

Reference:
1 B.A.B Bowman, Nutr. Rev., 50 (1992) 142
2 T. Bohmer, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 343 (1974), p. 551
3 R. Ferrari, C. Ceconi, S. Curello, E. Pain and O. Visioli, Mol. Cell. Biochem., 88 (1989) 161
4 M. De Grandis, C. Mezzina, A. Fiaschi, P. Pinelli, G. Bazzato, M. Morachiello, J. Neurol. Sci., 46 (1980) 365
5 D.B. Shennan, A. Grant, R.R. Ramsay, C. Burns, V.A. Zammit, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1393 (1998) 49

Raw Materials

Superior supplements begin with superior raw materials. As the foundation that supports our line of quality products, NOW tests raw materials for contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides and fillers. Our philosophy remains unfaltering; we always start with the purest, freshest raw materials to ensure that the finished product is the best it can be. By partnering with some of the most trusted names in the industry including Lonza, PL Thomas, Cyanotech, Inter-Health, Hoffman LaRoche, Sabinsa and others, NOW is proud to provide unadulterated natural products that are safe, potent and true to their claim.

Natural Ingredients
Mad Cow Free
Growth Hormone Free
Exacting Heavy Metal and Pesticide Specifications
Pure, Fresh Raw Materials, Always

Good Manufacturing Practices

NOW's commitment to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is evident in everything we do. As one of the first companies to receive GMP certification from the NNFA, in addition to being one of the very few to maintain a consistent 'A' rating, we've remained steadfast in our commitment to good manufacturing practices. Our clean, controlled and technologically advanced production facility is regularly inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, and has been certified organic by Quality Assurance International.

Longstanding NNFA GMP "A" Rating
FDA Inspected
Organic Certification by QAI
Clean, Modern, Controlled Production Facility

TruLabel Program

As a longstanding participant in the NNFA’s (National Nutritional Foods Association) Tru-Label program, NOW is subject to random, independent testing. This ultimately supports our ability to offer you nothing less than the finest products possible. By subjecting our entire line to this program, you can be assured that NOW products are honestly portrayed with accurate label claims.

See: www.nnfa.org.

Branded Ingredients

In many cases, NOW chooses to buy exclusive products and ingredients, and label these products with registered trademark names. Each of these products is licensed to NOW for distribution. The registered trademark is your assurance that the product is properly manufactured and labeled. In many cases, the trademark owner will independently assay our finished products to verify the quality meets their standards.

As one of the industry's leaders, we're pleased to share this information with customers. The sourcing and quality checks we perform on vendors help to ensure consistency, potency, safety and efficacy in every product we sell.

Natural & High Quality: What This Means To NOW Foods

by Michael Lelah, Ph.D. -NOW Foods Technical Director

At NOW Foods, we sell natural products - natural supplements, foods, and health and beauty products. We differentiate ourselves from the mass market, where synthetics are rampant. We also distinguish ourselves from many who claim to sell natural products, but whose products are far less than natural. Elwood Richard founded NOW with his vision to provide affordable natural products. As a chemist, Elwood understood the dangers of many synthetic ingredients, and moreover that health and wellness begins with products that are As Natural as Possible. Since 1968, our team has been delivering such products to your doorstep. Our commitment to you is that we will continue to do this.

Let’s review some specifics:

Natural Vitamin E: Synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) is chemically and physiologically different from the natural family ofVitamin E isomers. The natural family of vitamin E consists of 4 tocopherols (including d-alpha-tocopherol) and 4 tocotrienols. NOW only sells the natural forms.

CoQ10: CoQ10 is a particularly important antioxidant enzyme. However, there are two forms: the naturally-produced trans-CoQ10 form, and the synthetic, cheaper cis-form. The trans-form is the form found in your body, while the cis-form is chemically different. NOW only sells the natural trans-form of CoQ10.

Bovine Chondroitin: Chondroitin sulfate is a key ingredient in the fight for joint support. Clinical studies demonstrating efficacy are based on bovine Chondroitin (from cow). However, Chondroitin is more cheaply available from porcine (from pig) and chicken sources. NOW does not use the unproven pig and chicken forms, which are prevalent in the market.

D-Amino Acids: The natural form of amino acids is the L-form. Synthetic forms are the D-form or the DL-form. NOW Foods does not sell the mass produced synthetic forms; only natural L-Carnitine, L-Arginine, L-Lysine, etc.

Artificial Sweeteners: NOW sells natural sweeteners such as xylitol, erythritol and fructose. We do not sell or use artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose, or aspartame. Although these artificial sweeteners are sold freely in the U.S., much of the evidence for long term safety is in question.

Artificial Colors: NOW does not use any artificial colors in our products. Many of the synthetic colors, especially the red colors, have known toxicity. We use only natural colors such as annatto, beet, carob and chlorophyll.

Hydrogenated fats and trans-fats: Hydrogenation is a chemical process where unsaturated fats (vegetable oils) are chemically modified to make them more solid at room temperature. Trans-fats are a particular form of these chemically modified fats. These fats are unhealthy and have contributed to the obesity of America. NOW does not formulate our products with either of these fats.

Hormones: NOW Foods does not sell androstenedione, estrogen, testosterone, or DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). These are all steroid and/or anabolic supplements that may have potentially harmful side effects.

Ephedra and Bitter Orange: The FDA has banned Ephedra. But even during the years when Ephedra was legal, NOW Foods never sold Ephedra, as we have always been concerned about its abuse. Today, bitter orange is being used as a substitute for Ephedra in many competitive formulas. NOW Foods has removed bitter orange from our formulas and we do not sell bitter orange.

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Some natural herbs contain these alkaloids which are hepatotoxins (liver toxins). These herbs include comfrey and butterbur. Our butterbur is free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and we do not sell comfrey for internal use.

Aluminum: We do not use aluminum in our formulas, as it has been associated with Parkinson’s disease. Most of our products are formulated/tested to be aluminum-free. Some of our clays naturally contain aluminum and we declare this prominently on our labels.

Titanium Dioxide and Phosphates: These synthetic ingredients are widely used as excipients in supplements. Excipients are ingredients that have no nutritional value, but have been added to improve processing. NOW minimizes the use of these additives. In fact, many of our CoQ10 softgels are formulated to be free of titanium dioxide - a rarity in the market.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and Propylene Glycol (PPG): PEG is antifreeze. PPG is in the same family. NOW Foods does not use any PEG or PPG in our supplements, and is replacing the PPG in our deodorant stick. All our health and beauty products will soon be PPG-free.

Parabens: These synthetic chemicals are widely found in personal care products as preservatives. NOW Foods does not formulate its Personal Care products with Parabens.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): This nasty synthetic surfactant is also widely used in personal care products such as shampoos and oral products such as toothpaste. NOW Foods does not use SLS.

Fluoride: Sodium Fluoride is used to control bacteria and to prevent tooth decay and is present in most of our water supply. There is increasing evidence that Fluoride is unnecessary and harmful, and NOW does not formulate toothpastes and mouthwashes with Fluoride.

Chlorinated Compounds: Chlorinated organic compounds are not found in nature. These compounds are toxic and very dangerous. PCBs and dioxin are examples, as is sucralose. NOW Foods does not formulate with chlorinated compounds.

Irradiation: Irradiation is used to kill bacteria. But irradiation also has side effects, transforming the natural components in herbs and botanicals into unnatural molecules. NOW conducts microbiological tests, and rejects ingredients where this test indicates the presence of irradiation.

Alcohols: NOW does not use any alcohols in foods. Only grain alcohol - ethanol - is used in some of our liquid extracts. No other synthetic alcohols are used.

Fish Oil Purification: Our fish oils are now all molecularly distilled. This physical separation and purification process produces the best fish oil, free of heavy metal contaminants and pesticides. Compare!

Genetic Modification: NOW is opposed to genetic modification, because there are real and unknown harmful effects. Unfortunately, much of the world’s supply of corn and soybeans is genetically modified. We continue to bring you more and more products that are certified GMO-free, all clearly stated on the label.

Organic: Organic products are the most natural. No pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are used in cultivation. This is good for our environment, and NOW is taking every measure to increase our selection of organic products.

Pesticide Residues: We use pesticide-free products where available. Our Panax ginseng is pesticide-free. Roots are most susceptible to contamination by pesticides. As described earlier, our fish oils now are all molecularly distilled, ensuring them to be pesticide free.

Heavy metals: Natural botanicals do contain heavy metals because heavy metals are naturally occurring in soil. We ensure that the heavy metal content in herbs is safe. A concern with fish oils is mercury content. NOW fish oil is molecularly distilled and mercury-free.

Microbial contamination: Many natural ingredients contain naturally occurring low levels of microbes. However, high microbial contamination, and contamination with pathogens and aflatoxin contamination, are unnatural. We have an in-house state-of-the-art microbiology lab staffed with professional and trained microbiologists that test our materials and products against microbial contamination.

Oxidation: Some natural products will oxidize when stored. To minimize this from happening, we include silica-gel packs to remove moisture, and in some cases use Ageless anti-oxygen packets, which reduce the oxidation and keep the product in the bottle as fresh and natural as possible.

At NOW Foods, we take Natural seriously. This is our life, this is our expertise, and this is our business. This is our commitment to you. We hope that you appreciate the efforts we go through every day to making available the most natural, affordable products in the market. We welcome your suggestions to further our excellent product line.