{
  "slug": "acetyl-l-carnitine",
  "name": "Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC · ALCAR)",
  "alternate_names": [
    "ALC",
    "ALCAR",
    "Acetylcarnitine",
    "Levocarnitine acetyl"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "Carnitine ester form crossing the blood-brain barrier more efficiently than L-carnitine",
    "Mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation substrate (acetyl-CoA donor)",
    "Acetyl group donor for acetylcholine synthesis",
    "Neurotrophic effect via nerve growth factor receptor modulation"
  ],
  "target": [
    "Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation",
    "Peripheral nerve regeneration markers",
    "Cholinergic neurotransmission"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "peripheral neuropathic pain (moderate effect at 1.5-3 g/day · stronger in diabetic patients)",
    "mitochondrial bioenergetics adjunct in metabolic conditions",
    "neurotrophic / cholinergic support framework"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "NEURO",
    "METABOLISM",
    "CELL"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "B",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 1,
  "dosage_range": "1.5-3 g/day oral or IM-oral sequential dosing for peripheral neuropathic pain (Li 2015 PMID 25751285 PLoS One systematic review and meta-analysis of 4 RCT · n=523 · ALC vs control MD VAS 1.20 95% CI 0.68-1.72 P<0.00001 · stronger effect in diabetic subgroup); no severe adverse events reported across the trial pool",
  "safety_notes": "Common adverse events (pain, headache, paraesthesia, hyperaesthesia, GI symptoms) are mild and similar to control rates; thyroid disorder caution at very high doses; check for separately-marketed L-carnitine vs ALC formulation when comparing doses",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "GRAS · DSHEA dietary supplement · structure/function claims permitted; not an FDA-approved drug for any condition in the US",
    "efsa": "No standalone EFSA Reg 432/2012 authorized health claim adopted for acetyl-L-carnitine",
    "anvisa": "RDC 243/2018 dietary supplement · no IN 28/2018 Anexo V alegação funcional for acetil-L-carnitina"
  },
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/acetyl-l-carnitine/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "cognitive-support",
    "longevity-stack"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "senior-60-plus"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-04",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.2",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-04",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}