Acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid: possible neurotherapeutic agents for mood disorders?
BACKGROUND
Mood disorders are associated with decrements in cognitive function, which are insufficiently treated with contemporary pharmacotherapies.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the putative neurotherapeutic effects of the mitochondrial cofactors, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and alpha-lipoic acid; and to provide a rationale for investigating their efficacy in the treatment of neurocognitive deficits associated with mood disorders.


METHODS
A PubMed search of English-language articles published between January 1966 and March 2007 was conducted using the search terms carnitine and lipoic acid.


RESULTS
L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid may offer neurotherapeutic effects (e.g., neurocognitive enhancement) via disparate mechanisms including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulation. Preliminary controlled trials in depressed geriatric populations also suggest an antidepressant effect with acetyl-L-carnitine.


CONCLUSIONS
L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid are pleiotropic agents capable of offering neuroprotective and possibly cognitive-enhancing effects for neuropsychiatric disorders in which cognitive deficits are an integral feature.
Soczynska
Joanna K
JK
University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Kennedy
Sidney H
SH
Chow
Cindy S M
CS
Woldeyohannes
Hanna O
HO
Konarski
Jakub Z
JZ
McIntyre
Roger S
RS
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002331:Carnitine