This is an interesting Rabbit Hole!

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I dug out my personal notes concerning supplementation of L-Carnitine.

In 1997 (age 48), medical testing showed that I have severe asthma. The condition plagued me my entire life beginning at least from my early teens. The asthma dramatically impeded my ability to breath. I used a peak flow meter [a calibrated instrument used to measure lung capacity in monitoring breathing disorders] to measure my lung capacity [peak expiratory flow or PEF] periodically. On a good day my peak flow might reach around 390 liters per minute. But I had many bad days. On a bad day I was hovering over death’s door. The normal peak for a healthy individual with my age and height should be around 527. Starting in January 1997, I began to treat the condition using albuterol [a bronchodilator]. Using the albuterol inhaler improved my peak flow substantially. It moved my peak flow to an average of 576, approximately a 50% increase in lung functions.

In 2005, I heard about a dietary supplement, Juvenon, which was designed to restore the functioning of the mitochondria. This peaked my attention. Each tablet of Juvenon contained 500 mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl, and 200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid. I take one tablet each morning. Since Juvenon was formulated to rejuvenate the mitochondria and since the mitochondria controls the movement of oxygen in the body, I thought it might help with my asthma. So I performed a simple experiment. On 22 August 2005 (age 56), I began taking this supplement. My peak flow went up over 100 points, which I considered to be astonishing. After adding this supplement, my average was 691, an increase of an additional 20% in peak flow. [This corresponds to peak flows better than those achieved by a normal 20-year-old adult.] Some peaks were as high as 830. Also this reaction occurred quickly within minutes after taking the tablet and the effect lasted for about 24 hours. As a result, I have been taking this supplement ever since. I am now age 71.

I went down another interesting rabbit hole last night. One of the things that define many Aspies is the high degree of stress that we have to deal with. Too much accumulated stress can throw our bodies into a distress state. For example this is seen in a cascade of panic attacks. In this distressed state our bodies have used up their stores of important hormones. The depleted stores result in a wide range of detrimental symptoms that define Aspies. One method to restore these vital hormones is acute exercise and another way is supplementation. So what are these hormones?

Major Stress-Related Hormones Typically Affected by Acute Exercise

Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Atrial natriuretic peptide
Arginine vasopressin
β-endorphin
Brain natriuretic peptide
Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Cortisol
Cytokines
Dynorphins
Enkephalins
Epinephrine
Growth hormone
Norepinephrine
Prolactin
Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone
Testosterone

So I pondered if there was a relationship between Carnitine and these hormones. A quick scan on the Internet, seemed to show a strong relationship exists.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone & Cortisol

Effect of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Serum Levels of Cortisol and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Its Clinical Effect in Patients with Senile Dementia of Alzheimer Type

[Eleven patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type were treated with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) intravenously for 10 days and then orally for 50 days. Serum levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone were measured at baseline and after the intravenous treatment. Neuropsychological assessment was also carried out at the same times and at the end of the oral treatment. The results show a trend toward a decrease of the mean cortisol levels and a significant improvement of cognitive performances. These data could support the idea of the neuronotrophic action of acetyl-L-carnitine, indicating its usefulness for the treatment of dementia disorders.]


Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

Altered expression of atrial natriuretic peptide and contractile protein genes in hypertrophied ventricle of JVS mice with systemic carnitine deficiency.


Brain Natriuretic Peptide

Effects of L-carnitine on serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and cardiac function in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease

[As an adjuvant therapy for severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), L-carnitine treatment has satisfactory short-term efficacy in reducing the serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and improving cardiac function, thus improving clinical outcomes.


Cytokines

Modulation of cytokine production by carnitine

[These preliminary studies provide evidence that carnitine may modulate immune functions through the production of selected cytokines.]


Dynorphins

Protective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on the apoptotic pathway of peripheral neuropathy

[Peripheral neuropathies are widespread disorders induced by autoimmune diseases, drug or toxin exposure, infections, metabolic insults or trauma. Nerve damage may cause muscle weakness, altered functionalities and sensitivity, and a chronic pain syndrome characterized by allodynia and hyperalgesia. Pathophysiological mechanisms related to neuropathic disease are associated with mitochondrial dysfunctions that lead to the activation of the apoptotic cascade. … ALCAR is able to prevent regulated cell death in the damaged sciatic nerve.] [This effect is observable with treatment using acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), but not with L-carnitine (L-Carn) – so the specific form of L-carnitine supplement is important.]


Growth Hormones

Screening of growth hormone deficiency in short thalassaemic patients and effect of L-carnitine treatment

[Growth hormone deficiency is an aetiological factor in thalassaemic patients with short stature. L-carnitine can promote GH secretion and growth.]


Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone

Hypertension and Insulin Resistance

[Recent research has underscored the importance of heightened activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial functional abnormalities in promoting insulin resistance. L-carnitine, can correct insulin resistance and lower blood pressure through improvements in mitochondrial free fatty acid use.]


I think the bottom line here is that Carnitine touches many of the hormonal pathways that are activated by severe stress. And as a result, Carnitine supplementation may provide a reset to damaged or overloaded hormonal systems (hormonal imbalance). Also the specific form of Carnitine, such as acetyl-L-carnitine may be important.

I started L-carnitine on Sunday. 500 mg tablet, 3 times-a-day. I have plenty of reason to believe I may be in the 20% of ASD people with a mitochondrial condition. No side effects and I do feel there might have been a neurological difference after one day. I have been feeling sharper than usual. I need to find some cognitive tests to see if I can measure the difference.

I began taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine (Juvenon supplement tablet) fifteen years ago. One of my co-workers started at the same time. She had a condition called Scoliosis (curved spine) The curvature of her spine compressed her lungs and made it difficult for her to breathe properly. When she began taking this supplement, her breathing improved dramatically and that is why she continued to use it.