Can Anti Aging Supplements Help Other Problems?

Welcome back!

We all know that many anti aging supplements can help with diseases associated with aging, such as heart problems, Alzheimers, cognitive function, etc.  But can they help with other ailments not associated with aging?

Unfortunately, a family member was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  I immediately went on the internet to look up alternative therapies and to my surprise, many of the supplements I already take were on the list of supplements to try for Multiple Sclerosis.

Those not familiar with MS should know that it generally starts in younger people, between the ages of 20-40.  Some of the recommended supplements (this varies of course, depending on the individual) include:

• Fish Oil
• Coenzyme Q10
• Curcumin/Turmeric
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Vitamins C, E, B12 and D3

And of course, the same things I always preach -  a healthy diet high in antioxidants, lots of exercise, plenty of sleep.

The one thing I forgot about in all my research on anti aging was that a lot of the studies done on supplements were for helping with other diseases, not anti aging.  The anti aging properties of some of these supplements were a by-product or discovery of the study itself.

It’s good to know that many of the supplements associated with anti aging are generally good for you whether help with aging is your goal or not.

CoenzymeQ10- Do You REALLY Know the Benefits?

This is a continuation in the series Should You Take Anti Aging Supplements?.

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, has been around a while and no doubt you’ve heard about it’s heart healthy benefits. If you are over the age of 40 or are taking a statin drug, CoQ10 simply MUST be a part of your supplementation program. Here are a few basics about this anti aging supplement and some new facts, too. Read more

Acetyl L Carnitine – Anti Aging for the Brain and Body

This article is part of a series on anti aging supplements. Here is a listing of the articles to date:

Do You Need Anti Aging Supplements?

Before You Start An Anti Aging Program

Alpha Lipoic Acid

A lot of research has been done in the last few years and sometimes we are faced with a dizzying array of information about vitamins and supplements. This introduction to Acetyl L Carnitine should clear up some of the confusion.

Acetyl L Carnitine is a supplement that has been around the bodybuilding field for a while, but is now getting a lot of press for it’s help in the anti aging field as well. It has been used for years in Europe.

Carnitine is an amino acid and has primarily been used for heart-related conditions. It’s function is to transport fatty acids for oxidation – energy production.

What are the benefits of Acetyl-L-Carnitine?

It improves fat metabolism
Enhances mental quickness
Slows the effect of aging
Decreases symptoms of depression
Supports bodily functions that require high energy

What Are The Natural Sources of Carnitine?

Red meat (particularly lamb) and dairy products are the primary sources of Carnitine. Carnitine can also be found in fish, poultry, tempeh (fermented soybeans), wheat, asparagus, avocados, and peanut butter. Cereals, fruits, and vegetables contain little or no carnitine. Usually vegetarians can produce enough carnitine to avoid a deficiency.

Recommended doses of Acetyl L Carnitine

This is where I ran into some pretty wide variances in my research.

The typical daily dosage for long term use is 100 to 400 mg once a day, preferably in the early part of the day. Side effects of over stimulation and nausea may occur at dosages greater than 500 mg. Even higher doses may cause insomnia. If you happen to feel nausea, next time just take the acetyl-l-carnitine with food or take a lesser dose

Another site recommends 2 grams!

A third resource states this recommended dosage:

Fat metabolism (conversion of fat to energy) and muscular performance: 1,000 to 2,000 mg usually divided into two doses
Heart disease: 600 to 1,200 mg three times daily, or 750 mg twice daily
Alcohol-related carnitine deficiency: 300 mg three times daily
Male infertility: 300 to 1,000 mg three times daily
Chronic fatigue syndrome: 500 to 1,000 mg three to four times per day
Overactive thyroid: 2,000 to 4,000 mg per day in two to four divided doses

Obviously, the best advise is to check with your physician. I’ve been taking 500 mg once per day in the morning before eating and have not had any side effects. Your reaction may be different. It is wise to “take a short break” from it occasionally (see below).

What about side effects?

Side effects are usually rare and include increased appetite, body odor, and rash. Higher doses may cause diarrhea, nausea and insomnia.

Individuals taking L-Carnitine as a sports supplement to improve fat metabolism and muscular performance should stop using it at least for one week each month.

Always check with a doctor first if you are taking any medications, as there are some drug interactions.

Exciting Anti Aging Discoveries

New research indicates that taking Acetyl L Carnitine and R Lipoic Acid together may be a great new anti-aging combination. The two nutrients were given to aging rats with great results.
“With the two supplements together, these old rats got up and did the Macarena,” said Ames, also a researcher at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI). “The brain looks better, they are full of energy—everything we looked at looks more like a young animal.” Not only did the older rats do better on memory tests, they had more pep, and the energy-producing organelles in their cells worked better.

I’ll probably be doing a separate post on this finding in the future.

You’d think there would be a good combination of the two products for sale – I haven’t found one because most products contain the Alpha form of lipoic acid, not the R form. If you know of one, let me know!

Acetyl L Carnitine

R-Lipoic Acid

Other Related Posts:

• Acetyl-l-carnitine and L-carnitine: Canadian AIDS Treatment …
• Acetyl L-Carnitine 500mg 60ct Jarrow
• Burn Body Fat With Acetyl L-Carnitine
• My Thoughts on Acetyl L-Carnitine

Researching Anti Aging Supplements – a Rant

I'm currently doing the research for the next article in my series on Antiaging Supplements. (If you're not familiar with the series, it started with Before You Start An Anti Aging Program,

a listing of the popular supplements was given here: Do You Need Anti Aging Supplements?

and the first supplement was covered here: Alpha Lipoic Acid )

I must admit, I'm getting "information overload" at this point. Apparently, for every study you find that discovers a certain supplement might be good for this, there's another study that says, "No, it doesn't appear to do that at all".

You can read in one place that the recommended dosage is A and if you exceed that dosage, certain side effects MAY occur. Another place will tell you that you should take twice that amount (A) to get any benefit at all.

Most supplements are not FDA regulated (and Thank God – their track record isn't so good), so there are no standard dosages set. New research and discoveries are being made at a rapid rate as the science of anti aging and supplementation is considered fairly new.

So I will go with the "generally accepted" agreement among the various reputable sources and let you know if there are variances you should be aware of. I will also keep a detailed list of my sources which I will provide upon request.

I hope that's helpful information to you as you go through the series.

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