Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg

Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg

The Vitamin Shoppe4.8 (172 ratings)
Format:Capsule Quantity: 240 Capsule(s) · 240 servings
Goals
$50.00 $0.20 per serving

Product analysis

72 out of 100

Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg offers a simple, competitively priced way to take this nutrient for its role in cellular energy use. Better everyday energy or concentration in healthy adults has not been established.

AI assessment of the formula, label and price. How scoring works

Nutrient Quality40

The acetyl-L-carnitine hydrochloride form is clearly identified. That helps identify what is supplied, but does not by itself establish an absorption advantage.

Ingredient Transparency100

Both the serving amount and chemical form are disclosed. That makes the formula easier to compare, though the compound weight should not automatically be treated as the weight of acetyl-L-carnitine alone.

Value For Money100

The cost relative to the declared amount is especially competitive. That makes it an economical option for this ingredient, without proving an effective dose for a particular goal.

Customer Satisfaction75

Customer ratings are very positive, but the review base is relatively small. The feedback is encouraging, while giving a less established picture than products with many more ratings.

Product Focus57

The single ingredient is linked to several energy and brain-related purposes. Its role in cellular energy does not establish improved everyday focus, productivity or energy in healthy adults.

Format
Capsule
Container
240 Capsule(s)
Per serving
$0.20
Customer rating
4.8 · 172 ratings
Report analysis

Goals

Energy
Impact
High effect
B- Ingredient FitD- PathwaysA+ EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic
Acetyl L-Carnitine · 500 mg

Acetyl-L-carnitine's roles in cellular metabolism do not establish routine energy improvement. The 500 mg per serving received a partial saved contribution, but the relevant clinical fatigue evidence concerns adults over 70 with defined fatigue. That result does not establish benefit for general adult use or equivalence between acetyl-L-carnitine and its hydrochloride mass.

How this product is rated for Energy

Ingredient fit72

The retained ingredients received contributions, but the supplied evidence does not establish unconditional routine energy benefit. The formula's amounts contribute at differing levels.
Goal fit
The retained ingredients received contributions, but the supplied evidence does not establish unconditional routine energy benefit.
Dose adequacy
The declared serving makes a partial saved amount contribution, without establishing a clinical treatment regimen.

Pathways40

The saved contribution is concentrated in cellular energy production; this does not establish broader vitality.
Depth
The strongest retained contribution concerns cellular energy production, with limited transfer to general energy.
Breadth
Only cellular energy production reaches the saved coverage requirement; the other energy areas have no coverage.

Evidence95

Acetyl-L-carnitine supplies the leading saved evidence contribution. Its relevant population and use conditions limit expectations.
Evidence strength
Acetyl-L-carnitine supplies the leading evidence contribution, with its specific nutritional, population or exercise limitations.
Studied preparation
The retained contributors meet the saved preparation check; that does not establish superior fatigue relief for the declared forms.

Formulation logic100

The retained contributors need no missing partner under the supplied checks. No configured conflict was found.
Partner coverage
The retained contributors can contribute without an additional partner under the supplied checks; no extra combination benefit is established.
Conflicts
No configured conflict was found; the supplied checks do not evaluate every possible interaction.
Effective doses
Every retained contributor reaches the saved minimum amount condition; this does not establish an effective fatigue-treatment or exercise regimen.
Study evidence
Longevity
Impact
Moderate effect
B- Ingredient FitF PathwaysC EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic

The 500 mg serving of acetyl L-carnitine relates to mitochondrial energy production through fatty-acid transport. Its contribution is focused on cellular energy, while the supplied evidence offers limited support for routine preservation of function with age.

How this product is rated for Longevity

Ingredient fit72

The ingredients are closely focused on the reviewed goal, though the product is also linked to other uses. The assessed amounts provide partial dose coverage; some amounts are smaller or unresolved.
Goal fit
The ingredients are closely focused on the reviewed goal, though the product is also linked to other uses.
Dose adequacy
The assessed amounts provide partial dose coverage; some amounts are smaller or unresolved.

Pathways11

The strongest contribution is to antioxidant defence, with partial coverage. The saved findings do not show broad coverage of the reviewed aging pathways.
Depth
The strongest contribution is to antioxidant defence, with partial coverage.
Breadth
The saved findings do not show broad coverage of the reviewed aging pathways.

Evidence63

Acetyl L-Carnitine provides the strongest evidence contribution among the assessed ingredients, within the limits of the reviewed outcomes. The assessed ingredients at meaningful amounts match preparations included in the supplied evidence.
Evidence strength
Acetyl L-Carnitine provides the strongest evidence contribution among the assessed ingredients, within the limits of the reviewed outcomes.
Studied preparation
The assessed ingredients at meaningful amounts match preparations included in the supplied evidence.

Formulation logic100

1 of 1 assessed ingredients reach meaningful amounts in the saved assessment. No ingredient conflict was identified in the saved assessment.
Partner coverage
The assessed ingredients can contribute on their own or have their relevant partner present.
Conflicts
No ingredient conflict was identified in the saved assessment.
Effective doses
1 of 1 assessed ingredients reach meaningful amounts in the saved assessment.
Study evidence
Mental Focus
Impact
High effect
B- Ingredient FitD- PathwaysB+ EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic
Acetyl L-Carnitine · 500 mg

Acetyl-L-carnitine has roles related to cellular energy and supplies an acetyl group relevant to acetylcholine synthesis. These mechanisms do not establish better immediate attention in healthy adults. The declared 500 mg per serving received partial recognition for amount in the saved findings; it is not a demonstrated effective focus dose.

How this product is rated for Mental Focus

Ingredient fit72

Acetyl-L-carnitine account for the main saved ingredient findings. Acetyl-L-carnitine receive partial recognition for their declared amounts; the comparison does not establish a proven effective focus dose.
Goal fit
Acetyl-L-carnitine provide the main connection to focus; the product’s broader purposes also affect its saved fit.
Dose adequacy
Acetyl-L-carnitine receive partial recognition for their declared amounts; the comparison does not establish a proven effective focus dose.

Pathways40

The saved findings emphasize brain energy supply. Other evaluated pathways did not reach the coverage requirement.
Depth
The strongest saved pathway finding concerns brain energy supply.
Breadth
Only brain energy supply reached the coverage requirement.

Evidence83

Energy and acetylcholine mechanisms do not establish immediate focus improvement in healthy adults. The saved findings recognize the declared preparation, without establishing that every claimed attention benefit applies to it.
Evidence strength
Energy and acetylcholine mechanisms do not establish immediate focus improvement in healthy adults.
Studied preparation
The saved findings recognize the declared preparation, without establishing that every claimed attention benefit applies to it.

Formulation logic100

The saved findings identify no missing required ingredient partner. No configured conflicts were detected, and the counted ingredients passed the minimum amount threshold.
Partner coverage
The saved findings identify no missing required ingredient partner.
Conflicts
No configured ingredient conflict was detected in the supplied facts. This does not establish overall safety.
Effective doses
All ingredients counted in the saved findings passed its minimum amount threshold; that threshold does not prove clinical effectiveness.
Study evidence
Productivity Boost
Impact
Moderate effect
B- Ingredient FitF PathwaysC+ EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic
Acetyl L-Carnitine · 500 mgAcetyl L-Carnitine · 500 mg

Acetyl-L-carnitine is relevant to the brain's energy processes. At 500 mg per serving, its contribution is limited, and the supplied evidence does not support expecting improved everyday work performance in healthy adults.

How this product is rated for Productivity Boost

Ingredient fit72

The relevant ingredients are closely focused on the goal. The assessed amounts provide a partial match to the saved benchmarks.
Goal fit
The relevant ingredients are closely focused on the goal.
Dose adequacy
The assessed amounts provide a partial match to the saved benchmarks.

Pathways14

The main recorded contribution relates to brain energy, with limited coverage. The saved findings show limited breadth across the assessed mechanisms.
Depth
The main recorded contribution relates to brain energy, with limited coverage.
Breadth
The saved findings show limited breadth across the assessed mechanisms.

Evidence67

Acetyl L-Carnitine provides the strongest evidence contribution among the assessed ingredients. The assessed ingredients with qualifying amounts are recorded as matching studied preparations.
Evidence strength
Acetyl L-Carnitine provides the strongest evidence contribution among the assessed ingredients.
Studied preparation
The assessed ingredients with qualifying amounts are recorded as matching studied preparations.

Formulation logic100

The assessed ingredients can contribute independently or have the partners required by the saved assessment. No ingredient conflict was flagged by the saved checks.
Partner coverage
The assessed ingredients can contribute independently or have the partners required by the saved assessment.
Conflicts
No ingredient conflict was flagged by the saved checks.
Effective doses
All ingredients counted toward the goal meet the saved minimum amount threshold.
Study evidence
Metabolism Support
Impact
Lower effect
B- Ingredient FitF PathwaysF EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic
Acetyl L-Carnitine · 500 mg
Study evidence
Brain Health
Impact
High effect
B- Ingredient FitF PathwaysB EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic

Acetyl-L-carnitine is linked to energy metabolism, but that mechanism does not establish better cognition in healthy adults. The supplied clinical findings largely concern disease populations, and a large Alzheimer trial missed its primary outcomes. The 500 mg per serving therefore cannot be described as a proven cognitive-enhancement dose.

How this product is rated for Brain Health

Ingredient fit72

The relevant ingredients and their declared amounts support the specific roles described here, with the amount findings detailed below.
Goal fit
The relevant ingredients make this a focused formula for the brain-related roles described here.
Dose adequacy
The declared amounts provide only partial support against the saved amount comparisons, limiting expectations for the relevant roles.

Pathways19

The supplied findings link the ingredients to the processes described below; those links are distinct from demonstrated cognitive outcomes.
Depth
The strongest assigned connection is cerebral energy metabolism; this mechanistic connection does not itself establish improved cognition.
Breadth
None of the listed pathways reaches the saved coverage threshold.

Evidence76

The supplied evidence varies by ingredient, preparation and population. The findings below retain those distinctions.
Evidence strength
Acetyl L-Carnitine leads the saved evidence comparison, with benefits limited to the population and role described in the supplied context.
Studied preparation
The saved comparison recognizes the declared preparations; this does not establish that the product matches every study population or use pattern.

Formulation logic100

The supplied findings identify no unmet partner requirements or assigned conflicts, and the credited ingredients meet the minimum amount threshold.
Partner coverage
The credited ingredients have no unmet partner requirement in the supplied findings; this does not establish an added combination benefit.
Conflicts
No conflict was identified by the supplied checks; this is not a broader safety assessment.
Effective doses
All credited ingredients meet the saved minimum amount threshold, which is a comparison cutoff rather than a proven effective cognitive dose.
Study evidence

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per servingScore
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl)
500 mg 95
Gluten Free Adults 18–50 Dairy Free Sugar Free
Report overview
A- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityA+ Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyA+ Value
Acetyl L-carnitine supplies a clearly stated 500 mg per capsule as the hydrochloride form. At about $0.21 per 500 mg of declared acetyl L-carnitine, the low cost is a strength.
How this ingredient is rated

Active Ingredient Quality & Bioavailability88

The acetyl and hydrochloride identities are established, allowing a clear form comparison.
ALCAR vs. Standard Carnitine Form
Acetyl L-carnitine is identified, with no other carnitine form recorded.
Advanced Sourcing and Salt Specificity
The hydrochloride form is identified, but no manufacturing or purity-testing claim is recorded in the saved facts.

Dose, Safety & Label Transparency100

The exact amount is visible and provides a substantial acetyl L-carnitine contribution for comparison.
Clinical Dosage Efficacy
The serving supplies 500 mg of acetyl L-carnitine, a substantial amount.
Label Transparency and Proprietary Blends
The individual acetyl L-carnitine amount is explicitly stated, so it is not hidden within a blend total.

Value100

The whole-product price works out to about $0.21 per 500 mg of declared acetyl L-carnitine, a relatively low cost for the amount.
Price per 500mg Acetyl L-Carnitine
About $0.21 per 500 mg of declared acetyl L-carnitine, using the whole-product price.
Report alternatives

Sources

Published studies used for the product analysis and the top-ranked studies for each ingredient and goal.

  1. Acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
    Malaguarnera M; Gargante MP; Cristaldi E; Vacante M; Risino C; Cammalleri L; Pennisi G; Rampello L · Digestive diseases and sciences · 2008
    Randomized trial125 participantsBrain Health Cognitive Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  2. Long-term acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in Alzheimer's disease.
    Spagnoli A; Lucca U; Menasce G; Bandera L; Cizza G; Forloni G; Tettamanti M; Frattura L; Tiraboschi P; Comelli M · Neurology · 1991
    Randomized trial130 participantsBrain Health Cognitive Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  3. Pharmaco-electroencephalographic and clinical effects of the cholinergic substance--acetyl-L-carnitine--in patients with organic brain syndrome.
    Herrmann WM; Dietrich B; Hiersemenzel R · International journal of clinical pharmacology research · 1990
    Randomized trialBrain Health forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  4. Acetyl-L-carnitine improves cognitive functions in severe hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized and controlled clinical trial.
    Malaguarnera M; Vacante M; Motta M; Giordano M; Malaguarnera G; Bella R; Nunnari G; Rampello L; Pennisi G · Metabolic brain disease · 2012
    Randomized trial61 participantsBrain Health Cognitive Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  5. Acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of mildly demented elderly patients.
    Passeri M; Cucinotta D; Bonati PA; Iannuccelli M; Parnetti L; Senin U · International journal of clinical pharmacology research · 1990
    Randomized trial60 participantsBrain Health Mental Focus forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  6. A double-blind, parallel, multicenter comparison of L-acetylcarnitine with placebo on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in fragile X syndrome boys.
    Torrioli MG; Vernacotola S; Peruzzi L; Tabolacci E; Mila M; Militerni R; Musumeci S; Ramos FJ; Frontera M; Sorge G; Marzullo E; Romeo G; Vallee L; Veneselli E; Cocchi E; Garbarino E; Moscato U; Chiurazzi P; D'Iddio S; Calvani M; Neri G · American journal of medical genetics. Part A · 2008
    Randomized trial63 participantsCognitive Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  7. Acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) treatment in elderly patients with fatigue.
    Malaguarnera M; Gargante MP; Cristaldi E; Colonna V; Messano M; Koverech A; Neri S; Vacante M; Cammalleri L; Motta M · Archives of gerontology and geriatrics · 2008
    Randomized trial96 participantsCognitive Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  8. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine therapy reduces fatigue in overt hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
    Malaguarnera M; Vacante M; Giordano M; Pennisi G; Bella R; Rampello L; Malaguarnera M; Li Volti G; Galvano F · The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2011
    Randomized trial121 participantsEnergy forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  9. The supplementation of acetyl-L-carnitine decreases fatigue and increases quality of life in patients with hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α 2b plus ribavirin.
    Malaguarnera M; Vacante M; Bertino G; Neri S; Malaguarnera M; Gargante MP; Motta M; Lupo L; Chisari G; Bruno CM; Pennisi G; Bella R · Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research · 2012
    Randomized trial60 participantsEnergy forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  10. Acetyl-L-carnitine reduces depression and improves quality of life in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
    Malaguarnera M; Bella R; Vacante M; Giordano M; Malaguarnera G; Gargante MP; Motta M; Mistretta A; Rampello L; Pennisi G · Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology · 2011
    Randomized trial67 participantsEnergy forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  11. A prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
    Sun Y; Shu Y; Liu B; Liu P; Wu C; Zheng R; Zhang X; Zhuang Z; Deng Y; Zheng L; Xu Q; Jiang B; Ouyang X; Gao J; Xu N; Li X; Jiang S; Liang C; Yao Y · Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2020
    Randomized trial239 participantsEnergy forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  12. Metabolomic biomarkers for (R, S)-ketamine and (S)-ketamine in treatment-resistant depression and healthy controls: A systematic review.
    Kumar R; Nuñez NA; Joshi N; Joseph B; Verde A; Seshadri A; Cuellar Barboza AB; Prokop LJ; Medeiros GC; Singh B · Bipolar disorders · 2024
    Systematic reviewEnergy forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  13. Acetyl-L-carnitine Slows the Progression from Prefrailty to Frailty in Older Subjects: A Randomized Interventional Clinical Trial.
    Malaguarnera G; Catania VE; Bertino G; Chisari LM; Castorina M; Bonfiglio C; Cauli O; Malaguarnera M · Current pharmaceutical design · 2022
    Randomized trial92 participantsLongevity forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  14. Acetyl-L-Carnitine Supplementation During HCV Therapy With Pegylated Interferon-α 2b Plus Ribavirin: Effect on Work Performance; A Randomized Clinical Trial.
    Malaguarnera G; Pennisi M; Gagliano C; Vacante M; Malaguarnera M; Salomone S; Drago F; Bertino G; Caraci F; Nunnari G; Malaguarnera M · Hepatitis monthly · 2014
    Randomized trial62 participantsMental Focus Productivity Boost forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  15. [Psycho-functional changes in attention and learning under the action of L-acetylcarnitine in 17 young subjects. A pilot study of its use in mental deterioration].
    Lino A; Boccia MM; Rusconi AC; Bellomonte L; Cocuroccia B · La Clinica terapeutica · 1992
    Non-randomized trial17 participantsMental Focus forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  16. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a multi-site, placebo-controlled pilot trial.
    Arnold LE; Amato A; Bozzolo H; Hollway J; Cook A; Ramadan Y; Crowl L; Zhang D; Thompson S; Testa G; Kliewer V; Wigal T; McBurnett K; Manos M · Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology · 2008
    Randomized trial112 participantsMental Focus forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  17. Acetyl-L-carnitine for patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
    Martí-Carvajal AJ; Gluud C; Arevalo-Rodriguez I; Martí-Amarista CE · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
    Meta-analysis398 participants5 studies pooledMental Focus forAcetyl L-Carnitine
  18. Low Bioavailability and High TMAO Production: Novel Insights Into Acetylcarnitine and Carnitine Metabolism.
    Krims-Davis K; Ozola M; Razzivina V; Gukalova B; Konrade I; Dambrova M; Liepinsh E · Molecular nutrition & food research · 2025
    Randomized trialMetabolism Support forAcetyl L-Carnitine