Now Foods Acetyl-L Carnitine, 50 Caps, 500 Mg

NOW Foods has switched suppliers for its Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALC). Formerly sourced from the Swiss firm Lonza which has earned a stellar reputation for the purity and stability of its pharmaceutical grade products, NOW's ALC comes now from a cheap, generic supplier. (The product image on this page is outdated; on the NOW Foods website, "Pharmaceutical Grade" and Lonza's "L-Carnipure" trademark have been removed from the product label.) Most often these generic ALC suppliers are based in China, a country infamous for its lax quality control standards and consequent product adulteration scandals ranging from toxic toothpaste to tainted infant formula that killed hundreds.

Moreover, the cheaper ALC is produced via chemical synthesis, rather than by fermentation. This cheaper process creates high levels of the toxic D-Carnitine form which must then be removed from the end product. (Whereas the L-Carnitine form improves fatty acid metabolism, the D-Carnitine form inhibits it.) This purification step can leave as much as 10% or more of the toxic D-Carnitine form in the ALC shipped to customers. NOW Foods promises that it will exceed the FDA's and EU's 4% standard but as yet has not implemented the quality control regime to ensure it. Nevertheless, the company still charges a premium for its downgraded ALC.

Beyond its "anti-aging" effects cited by one reviewer, ALC does offer significant, proven health benefits for those suffering from angina and peripheral neuropathy. I can personally testify to the almost complete reversal of ischemia that it has produced in my case. Taken in conjunction with alpha lipoic acid, biotin, a sustained release "B-50" vitamin B formulation, magnesium and a cortisol antagonist, the improvement was dramatic and immediate. Revascularization was readily apparent in my feet within days of starting this regimen.

While I endorse taking ALC for those similarly afflicted, I cannot recommend the current version offered under the NOW Foods brand. One should look elsewhere to brands sourced from either Lonza ("L-Carnipure" TM) or Sigma Tau ("Biosint" TM), another reputable pharmaceutical grade manufacturer based in Italy. (Jarrow Formulas and Doctor's Best both source their ALC from Sigma Tau and carry its trademark on their labels. TwinLab, currently one of the most popular brands of ALC on Amazon, sources its product from Lonza -- at least for as long as its label retains the "L-Carnipure" trademark.) In most cases, the brand label will display the words "pharmaceutical grade." The premium charged here is relatively modest (~20%) and well worth it.

This review may not reflect the manufacturer of the product but it is important to be aware of advertising as it can be different to the actual product purchased. I purchased this Acetyl-L Carnitine primarily because I saw the "CARNIPURE" logo which indicates the ingredients is made with Carnipure, a particular source of L-carnitine which many regard as the purest available. When I received the product it did not have the "CARNIPURE" logo on it as the one in the advertised picture did. I contacted Amazon about this and they immediately dispatched a replacement as a "recovery" to the problem without having information as to the nature of the problem. I suspected the same product was going to be sent so I intervened and stopped the shipment. To Amazon's credit they refunded me fully. In relation to the product itself, I contacted NOW and they advised me that they use more than one source of L-Carnitine and hence have removed the "CARNIPURE" logo from their product.

I really like the NOW brand, and glad to find it at a good price. Would definitely recommend for improving energy levels.