Chapter 44 ▶ Supplements, from A to Z
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a greater endurance of “sporting” fatigue and an increased ability to “react” to acute stressful events, which are very different from routine daily stress. A faster post-workout recovery.
To understand the effects mediated by this molecule, it is necessary to understand the endogenous biosynthetic pathway that leads to the formation of carnitine, noting that it has an important molecule as a precursor: S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAM-e). The latter is formed in the liver from simple methionine and ATP, which is degraded to transfer adenine to methionine in order to form SAM-e. A formed SAM-e molecule has “consumed” an ATP molecule for its synthesis. Understanding this is fundamental, since the SAM-e sparing process by carnitine administration can help explain the psychic and physical benefits that we already mentioned, as SAM-e is fundamental for the synthesis of numerous brain neurotransmitters. Clinical studies have found an improvement in sports and in the intellectual performance, an aid for the memory, the immune system and for the maintenance of intellectual faculties, against depression, against chronic fatigue syndrome, etc. These studies also indicate that appreciable cognitive benefits occur after a few months of additional administration and highlight the neuroprotective role of ALC on the cholinergic system. Carnitine and ALC should not be used in people with bipolar disease (manic depression) and epilepsy, unless recommended by the attending physician.
Dosages
The average dosage is 500-1000 mg/day, although in the presence of slimming regimes and intense physical activity, it can reach 1500-2000 mg per day. It is interesting to note that ALCAR in daily quantities equal to 2 g, in combination with alpha-lipoic acid, can potentially reduce the hypertension thanks to its antioxidant and pro-energetic action, as well as improve the insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in people with compromised heart health.
Effectiveness Strength
Resistant strength
Mass
Endurance
Slimming
Concentration
Recovery
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ACETYLCYSTEINE (NAC) Description
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor of L-cysteine, a non-essential but important sulfur amino acid for the hepatic metabolism and also for the metabolism of homocysteine and the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). In nature, it is found in plants of the Allium species, in particular in onion (Allium cepa, 45 mg NAC/kg). It is a donor molecule of thiol groups (the sulfhydryl-SH group) which, within the NAC molecule, directly eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulate the redox state of NMDA and AMPA receptors (involved in transmission at the central nervous system level), and it also inhibits NF-κB (a transcription factor for inflammatory processes). GSH, together with SOD (superoxide dismutase) and catalase, are the most potent organic endogenous antioxidant. The level of free radicals to which the cell is subjected is 371
