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27 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 NOW Foods brand Acetyl L-Carnitine no longer pharmaceutical grade Mar 24, 2010
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 (The product image on this page is outdated; on the NOW Foods website, "Pharmaceutical Grade" and Lonza's "L-Carnipure" trademark have been removed from the product label.)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.
1 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Acetyl-L Carnitine Aug 05, 2009
Maybe I have not given this product enough time, but I have not experienced any difference in my memory or general health. Was this supposed to be working by now?
7 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Great Value !!! Oct 12, 2008
Acetyl-L Carnitine is one of the most popular health supplements. It assists with many functions within the body, but, one of the primary uses for it is to maintain your youth. It has been reported that fashion models use this along with Alpha Lipoic Acid as a "Fountain Of Youth" supplement. Personally, I do notice an increase in energy especially when taken along with MSM. I think that is item from NOW is the very best value I can find for Carnitine anywhere. If you're looking for A.L.-Carnitine, I highly recommend this item!!!
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