Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is an ester of the trimethylated amino acid, L-carnitine, and is synthesized in the human brain, liver, and kidney by the enzyme ALC-transferase. Acetyl-L-carnitine facilitates the uptake of acetyl CoA into the mitochondria during fatty acid oxidation, enhances acetylcholine production, and stimulates protein and membrane phospholipid synthesis. ALC, similar in structure to acetylcholine, also exerts a cholinomimetic effect. Studies have shown that ALC may be of benefit in treating Alzheimer's dementia, depression in the elderly, HIV infection, diabetic neuropathies, ischemia and reperfusion of the brain, and cognitive impairment of alcoholism.
乙酰左旋肉碱（ALC）是三甲基化氨基酸左旋肉碱的酯类，由人体大脑、肝脏和肾脏中的ALC转移酶合成。在脂肪酸氧化过程中，乙酰左旋肉碱促进乙酰辅酶A进入线粒体，增强乙酰胆碱的生成，并刺激蛋白质和膜磷脂的合成。结构与乙酰胆碱相似的ALC也具有拟胆碱作用。研究表明，ALC可能有助于治疗阿尔茨海默病性痴呆、老年抑郁症、HIV感染、糖尿病性神经病变、脑缺血再灌注以及酒精中毒所致的认知障碍。
