Positive Effects of l-carnitine & alpha-Lipoic Acid
 

As prescribed by my neurologist, I have been taking these supplements at the prescribed dosage of 1,000 mg l-carnitine twice a day and 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid once a day, for about three weeks.

I do not know if it is helping with my PN and AN - yet. Although, I can say that I believe it is helping with my bowel. I have had chronic "D" for years (and yes, numerous times everyday), but for about one and a half weeks, I have not had one single episode and i cannot attribute this change in pattern to anything else. Hopefully, this good effect will continue. :)

Mere

That is interesting.

You know Mystery diagnosis had an episode about a woman who had chronic diarrhea, especially after eating, for several years.

She found a GI specialist who diagnosed her with HIS discovery, Habba Syndrome. This is where the gall bladder makes too much bile, which causes the diarrhea.

http://www.habbasyndrome.com/

Simple treatment...taking Welchol before meals. (this is a binding resin, that sequesters the bile acids).

You might want to look into this?

Chronic diarrhea will deplete magnesium and potassium.

Mrs.D.,

Thank you for the reply. I had my gall bladder removed and extensive work done to the sphincter of oddi back in 1986. I was only 24 years old. The sphincteroplasty made it such that bile dumps into my small intestine because the sphincter is always wide open...

Perhaps, that is the problem. I also had my jejunum attached to my stomach (duodenojejunostomy, 1990) because my superior mesenteric artery was compressing my duodenum and causing obstruction (called SMA syndrome). So who knows, lots of work done in the GI tract. :rolleyes:

I wonder if the drug Welcho would interfere with the absorption of other meds I take. Thanks for the info, I will definitely look into it.

Mere

Matter of fact, my gastroenterologist said I have "hurry-up syndrome" (LOL), and I definitely "map" the bathrooms when I go somewhere...

The drugs that are resins.... can be used when you take other drugs... you just have to space them out.

Dr. Habba's site explains that removing the gall bladder doesn't always fix this.

WelChol is very benign stuff... it can be constipating, but you don't have that problem. It is not absorbed into the body either, and stays in the GI tract.

http://www.welchol.com/

These are the 3 typically that are used to sequester bile acids:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_acid_sequestrant

I wonder why my neurologist didn't recommend l- carnitine along with the alpha lipoic acid. I think I will try it. I'm also going to increase my amount of 300 mg. of alpha l. acid to 600 mg. I don't remember the amount he recommended. He was a fellow at the teaching hopsital I go to and the current fellow hasn't recommended anything. Along with the alpha lipoic acid he recommended Vitamins C, E, B complex, and a multiple vitamin. I was diagnosed when I was 59 and am now 60.

Thanks for your information.

My neurologist and his partner promote a holistic approach to care. He claims that unlike the traditional medications, alpha lipoic acid (600 mg) promotes regeneration of nerve cells. I still may have to take the 'traditional' medications, regardless. I was just diagnosed with chronic small fiber neuroopathy and we are still testing for a cause.

I believe the l-carnitine is an amino acid that promotes energy through the citric acid cycle in the metabolic process. I used to understand metabolism (I studied dietetics extensively in college in early adulthood) but it has been a while. Mrs.D may know this area better...

He suggested that I try these supplements for a month or two and that I should know whether they are helping after that time period. I understand that it may take longer from reading here.

It can't hurt, he did assure me that, but you should check with your doctor about your own situation.

Most doctors do not understand non-drug interventions.
They don't take the time or make the effort to see what is out there in studies.

Acetyl Carnitine is a bit better, for two reasons.
1) it is better absorbed
2) provides the acetyl group for formation of acetylcholine.

There is a 3rd one that works with carnitine and lipoic acid.
It is CoQ-10.

All 3 work in the mitochondria to improve energy production when glucose is not available.
There is a new research thrust that implicates mitochondrial failure in chronic disease.
Here is that thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...t=mitochondria

Also you can read the Juvenon site, where Dr. Ames has gathered alot of information. He has been reseaching mitochondrial failure for a long time, and makes his own supplement. I find him expensive, but is excellent to mine for further information. He focuses on "aging", but I think exposure to drugs over a lifetime, and other toxins, take their toll as well.

http://juvenon.com/

Mrs.D, you mention that CoQ-10 works well with carnitine and lipoic acid... what in your opinion is a good dosage of CoQ-10 to take along with these two supplements?

Thanks, Mere

100mg and above. This is the most expensive of the 3, IMO.

And it would be best to do 300mg a day for conventional CoQ-10, but cost may stop you.

CoQ-10 is not absorbed well, so pick one with enhanced absorption. This may be two types. Since you take other drugs I'd avoid the one with Bioperine in it. This may interfere with your other drugs.

The other enhanced type has a solubilizer added to enhance absorption.

If you opt for this one, you can get by with lower doses.
http://www.epic4health.com/noname.html

Here are some dosing recommendations: for Qgel
http://www.epic4health.com/dosnotqgelco.html

There is a new form of CoQ-10 called ubinquinol. This tends to be more expensive, and one can use less therefore.
http://www.epic4health.com/ubiquinolcoq10.html

Basically since you do not have serious disease elsewhere, you may not need really high doses. People with heart failure need high doses however.

This is the premier supplement for people using statin drugs.