ADHD Treatment with the Amino Acid Acetyl-L-Carnitine - a Recent Study

We have long held the opinion that the symptoms ofCarnitine has a major role in transferring fatty acids
ADHD could be lessened, and perhaps fully treated,across the membrane of the energy burning furnaces
by the use of amino acids and the help of specificof the mitochondria of our cells. Without Carnitine,
ADD diets. Now a study from Italy gives morefats cannot be burned. Carnitine is the most useful
support for our position that prescription medications,single entity known, and indeed essential, in the
particularly stimulants, are not the only effectivemobilizing of fatty tissue deposits, helping the body in
ADHD treatments available.the natural removal of poisonous ketone bodies left
The study from Italy looked at the effectiveness ofover from fat metabolism.
just one amino acid in a specific population of ADHDThe research team from the Università
children that are well known as poor responders toCattolica in Rome studied 51 boys, ages 6 to 12,
stimulant treatment - children with Fragile Xdiagnosed with both Fragile X syndrome and ADHD.
syndrome and also ADHD symptoms. Fragile XIt was a double-blind study, so the boys were
syndrome is the most common hereditary form ofdivided into two groups, one to get the amino acid
mental retardation, and many children with thetreatment and the other a placebo. They study
condition also have ADHD, or at least the symptomlasted for one year, with the boys evaluated at the
inventory of ADHD.beginning (baseline), at six months, and after a year.
Over the years stimulants such as Ritalin have beenThe boys treated with the L-Acetyle-Carnitine
used to treat the ADHD symptoms with theseshowed significant improvements. They were less
children, but with mixed or poor response. Stimulantshyperactive and had improved attention and focus,
often caused the children to be more irritable, lessand without any of the side-effects that would be
verbal, and often more withdrawn. So theexpected in this population from treatment with
researchers explored the possibility that the aminostimulants. In fact, there were no adverse
acid L-Acetyl Carnitine (LAC) might be helpful inside-effects reported by the amino acid group at all.
reducing the ADHD symptoms, but without theThe boys were also given intelligence tests, but there
side-effects.were no significant gains made on the IQ testing.
L-Acetyl-Carnitine, or Acetyl-L-Carnitine, has been"We propose that LAC be recommended as a
studied in patients with dementia from Alzheimers,treatment of ADHD in FXS children," the authors
and the treatment group showed somestate, "since it effectively reduces hyperactive
improvements in short-term memory tasks such asbehavior and improves social abilities without adverse
the Names Learning Test and the Digit Recall Test.side effects." They also suggest that these results
Also in computerized testing, such as the TOVA,may be applicable to children with autism, who also
there were improvements in reaction time scores.do not easily tolerate stimulants.
The results suggested that L-Acetyle-Carnitine mayWe have personally studies and observed the
have a beneficial effect on some features ofpositive results from treatment with a combination of
Alzheimer-type dementia, particularly those related toamino acids, lipid complexes, and homeopathic
short-term memory. L-Acetyl-Carnitine has also beenmedicines in Attend with ADHD children. And we
studied in Huntington's disease with positive effectsrecommend that parents and physicians take a closer
on movement disorders and dementia.look at this alternative treatment.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine or L-Carnitine is an amino acid whichSOURCE: American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part
is normally synthesized in the liver from lysine andA published online Feb. 19, 2008. Part B will be
methionine. It is the precursor of acetylcholine and ispublished in April, 2008.
synergistic with lipoic acid in its many functions.