Taken from "endurancelist" yahoo group
dr. misner from e-caps comments. give credit where credit is due. Even tho there Aholes over at ecapsHello Pat,
Take these as comments from one who [as an older athlete] is using
alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl L-Carnitine for enhancing mitochondria
energy efficiency. I have noticed sufficient though subtle positive
changes in mental energy, physical energy, and especially recovery
since I have been using both of these supplements 7.5 months now. We
endurance athletes require more nutrient and micronutrient than do
sedentary folks. We take these substrates to replace them before they
become depleted. The food supply does not provide the micronutrients
in volume to meet expense in extreme endurance athletes. Vitamins and
Mineral substrates are typically not viewed as ergogenic or
performance-enhancing. When they become depleted however, performance
inhibition predictably results. When muscle mitochondria cells are
oppressed, super-stressed, or suffer pathological deterioration,
adding alpha-Lipoic Acid with either aceytl or l-carnitine may result
in resolving the disorder. The test to determine Carnitine-ALA's
donation is to perform a washout [stop taking for 30 days peak
training], then do a time trial on a course in which an established a
personal best while using both. If the washout trial does not equal
or exceed fastest time, then I agree the cost may not justify the
expense. Research in human subjects has not conclusively agreed that
alpha Lipoic Acid, which regenerates antioxidants in both fatty and
water tissues, and L-Carnitine, active in mitochondria energy
metabolism during exercise, are ergogenic or simply required
nutrients for mitochondria health resulting in energy efficiency. I
have taken the liberty to share some reports from the literature for
your review. Like you, I am paying for these supplements out of
pocket. Alpha Lipoic Acid is presently a part of my permanent
supplement protocol. I have taken all 5 forms of Carnitine, and, like
you, I could not tell the difference when taking it or when not in
terms of performance. I was late this year taking the time required
to get fit due to circumstances. Since February, I have been taking
both ALA and Acetyl L-Carnitine. In September, after 7th months dose,
I rode a timed 90-mile course 51 minutes faster than last year. Was
it the ALA and Acetyl L-Carnitine? I do not know. But this I do know,
I am a year older [62 not 61]...which is opposes predicted
expectation. Steve Born has been using this combination this year,
though he has always used a Carnitine supplement during extreme
training stress. I think he may be convinced of a performance-
enhancing adjunct, direct or indirect.
Juvenon collected anecdotal evidence from 50 human subjects @:
http://www.juvenon.com/html/Trials.html
http://www.juvenon.com/html/Trials_EnergyStudy.html
Here is a case study that was reported by Barbiroli B, Medori R,
Tritschler HJ, Klopstock T, Seibel P, Reichmann H, Iotti S, Lodi R,
Zaniol P. in J Neurol. 1995 Jul;242(7):472-7.
Lipoic (thioctic) acid increases brain energy availability and
skeletal muscle performance as shown by in vivo 31P-MRS in a patient
with mitochondrial cytopathy.
"A woman affected by chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia and
muscle mitochondrial DNA deletion was studied by phosphorus magnetic
resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) prior to and after 1 and 7 months of
treatment with oral lipoic acid. Before treatment a decreased
phosphocreatine (PCr) content was found in the occipital lobes,
accompanied by normal inorganic phosphate (Pi) level and cytosolic
pH. Based on these findings, we found a high cytosolic adenosine
diphosphate concentration [ADP] and high relative rate of energy
metabolism together with a low phosphorylation potential. Muscle MRS
showed an abnormal work-energy cost transfer function and a low rate
of PCr recovery during the post-exercise period. All of these
findings indicated a deficit of mitochondrial function in both brain
and muscle. Treatment with 600 mg lipoic acid daily for 1 month
resulted in a 55% increase of brain [PCr], 72% increase of
phosphorylation potential, and a decrease of calculated [ADP] and
rate of energy metabolism. After 7 months of treatment MRS data and
mitochondrial function had improved further. Treatment with lipoate
also led to a 64% increase in the initial slope of the work-energy
cost transfer function in the working calf muscle and worsened the
rate of PCr resynthesis during recovery. The patient reported
subjective improvement of general conditions and muscle performance
after therapy. Our results indicate that treatment with lipoate
caused a relevant increase in levels of energy available in brain and
skeletal muscle during exercise."
L-CARNITINE RESULTS IN SMALL [INSIGNIFICANT] INCREASES IN VO2 MAX
Excerpts from Wachter S, Vogt M, Kreis R, Boesch C, Bigler P,
Hoppeler H, Krahenbuhl S., wrote in their paper, Long-term
administration of L-carnitine to humans: effect on skeletal muscle
carnitine content and physical performance. Clin Chim Acta. 2002
Apr;318(1-2):51-61, described a small increase in VO2 Max in humans
using a large dose of L-Carnitine:
"Eight healthy male adults were treated with 2 x 2 g of L-carnitine
per day for 3 months. Muscle biopsies and exercise tests were
performed before, immediately after, and 2 months after the
treatment. Exercise tests were performed using a bicycle ergometer
for 10 min at 20%, 40%, and 60% of the individual maximal workload (P
(max)), respectively, until exhaustion. At submaximal intensities,
the only difference to the pretreatment values was a 5% increase in
VO2 at 20% and 40% of P(max) 2 months after the cessation of the
treatment. The total carnitine content in the skeletal muscle was
4.10 micromol/g before, 4.79 micromol/g immediately after, and 4.19
micromol/g wet weight 2 months after the treatment (no significant
difference)." I am willing to accept a +5% increase in VO2 Max at any
speed...
Gomes & Tirapegui summarized in Arch Latinoam Nutr 2000 Dec;50(4):317-
29 that: "Carnitine might probably improve the aerobic capacity by
stimulating lipid oxidation on muscle cells during long term
exercise..."
L-CARNITINE DOSE = BETTER RECOVERY
Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Rubin MR, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Gaynor P.
reported that L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably
affects markers of recovery from exercise stress, in
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb;282(2):E474-82.
"Exercise-induced increases in plasma malondialdehyde returned to
resting values sooner during LCLT compared with placebo. The amount
of muscle disruption from MRI scans during LCLT was 41-45% of the
placebo area. These data indicate that LCLT supplementation is
effective in assisting recovery from high-repetition squat exercise."
Plasma Malondealdehyde is a measure of free radical excess, a major
factor in premature fatigue and prolonged recovery.
I think it takes some people only a month or two to notice the
difference, while others of us it may take 6-7 months to tell. It
appears to me that the more extreme the energy expense, the greater
the impact from use of these mitochondrial metabolites. For sure,
someone like Steve Born who is training at 70% VO2 Max + for 500 +
miles per week is going to derive more benefits from someone who is
only training half that amount or less. The number of mitochondria
cells in muscles that have been stress exercised do increase in
number and in enzyme stores proportionate to the type, length, and
intensity of energy demand, which leads me to conclude that putting
more exogenous substrates in a repletion route will be advantageous
for a 14 week training-to-peak performance.
--- In endurancelist@y..., Patkilroy@a... wrote:
> Are any of the older members on this list using acetyl-L-carnitine
and alpha-lipoic acid as suggested in a study brought to our
attention by Dr.
> Bill? Have any of you noticed a difference in your athletic
performance or
> otherwise?
I take vitamins (PICs for the last year) and do not notice a
difference and
> don't expect to. On the other hand, if I miss my dose of R Caps
and E Caps
> before my Saturday fast club rides, I notice a lessening of
performance.
> Thus I keep taking them.
> I'm finding it hard to justify the cost of acetyl-L-carnitine and
> alpha-lipoic acid without noticing a physiological change or having
peer
> review published studies on humans, rather than lab rats.
> Patrick
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