title: Acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid: possible neurotherapeutic agents for mood disorders?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Soczynska
authors.forename: Sidney H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Cindy S M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Hanna O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Woldeyohannes
authors.forename: Jakub Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Konarski
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D002331:Carnitine