In another study, doctors at the Nagoya University School of Medicine in Japan showed that carnitine deficiency was closely related to the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. Traditionally, some diabetics have suffered with peripheral neuropathy at various times throughout the course of their illness. Scientists now know that several mechanisms may produce this neuropathy in diabetics. It seems a particular enzyme in diabetics, which limits the availability of gamma linoleic acid, also decreases the endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide and of L-carnitine. The authors felt, though experimental, these treatments were a promising solution for diabetics.
Some studies show encouraging degrees of efficacy, while other studies show no benefit.
Though this is an important study, Alzheimer's patients over 61 may want to still consider ALC for its other known neurological benefits, which were not evaluated in this study. Protein glycation has been implicated in the development of cataracts. It is the formation of AGEs that makes cataract irreversible. Those with neurological deficit should consider 3000 mg a day. Amenta F, Ferrante F, Lucreziotti R, Ricci A, Ramacci MT, Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Universita La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.