L-acetylcarnitine or acet-L-carnitine, a compound, naturally produced by the body, is necessary for fatty-acid metabolism and energy production. It is often taken as a dietary supplement. The mechanisms of action of acetylcarnitine have not been fully elucidated, but it seems that the main role of acetylcarnitine is to donate an acetyl group during fatty acid metabolism to help transport fatty acids, such as acetyl CoA, into the mitochondrial matrix where fatty acid metabolism occurs. L-acetylcarnitine is an investigational drug, which is approved in some countries, for example in Italy for diabetic neuropathy. Phase IV of clinical trials have revealed, that it also effective agent to treat the Alzheimer's disease. In contrary, the efficacy of L-acetylcarnitine as a prophylaxis in migraine patients did not provide evidence of benefit for efficacy. Besides, Acetyl-L-carnitine was in clinical trial Phase III to investigate its efficacy in the treatment of peripheral sensory neuropathy that anti-cancer chemotherapeutics induce. Recently published article unexpectedly discovered that this drug increased chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in a randomized trial.

L-acetylcarnitine or acet-L-carnitine, a compound, naturally produced by the body, is necessary for fatty-acid metabolism and energy production. It is often taken as a dietary supplement. The mechanisms of action of acetylcarnitine have not been fully elucidated, but it seems that the main role of acetylcarnitine is to donate an acetyl group during fatty acid metabolism to help transport fatty acids, such as acetyl CoA, into the mitochondrial matrix where fatty acid metabolism occurs. L-acetylcarnitine is an investigational drug, which is approved in some countries, for example in Italy for diabetic neuropathy. Phase IV of clinical trials have revealed, that it also effective agent to treat the Alzheimer's disease. In contrary, the efficacy of L-acetylcarnitine as a prophylaxis in migraine patients did not provide evidence of benefit for efficacy. Besides, Acetyl-L-carnitine was in clinical trial Phase III to investigate its efficacy in the treatment of peripheral sensory neuropathy that anti-cancer chemotherapeutics induce. Recently published article unexpectedly discovered that this drug increased chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in a randomized trial.