Branigen (acetyl-L-carnitine) / Mitsubishi Tanabe, Dong-A, Leadiant Biosci - LARVOL DELTA

Lipid deregulation impacts hematopoietic stem cell functions during aging (ASH 2025) - "To understand the effect of reduced Taz expression on HSC functions, we useda doxycycline inducible, sh-RNA mediated TAZ knock-down (KD) mouse model...In competitive transplant assay, while mid-agedWT HSC treated with vehicle gave rise to a myeloid-bias graft, Alcar supplemented mid-aged WT HSC gaverise to a more balanced graft with increased ratio of lymphoid to myeloid cells in the peripheral blood 16weeks following transplantation, albeit the rescue was partial.This study indicates that HSC lipid composition becomes abnormal with aging which causes a decline inHSC function and highlights the critical role of mitochondrial CL in HSC functions. It implies thatmetabolite supplementation is a viable option for restoring age-related HSC functional defects."

Bone Marrow Transplantation • Hematological Disorders • TAFAZZIN

Low Bioavailability and High TMAO Production: Novel Insights Into Acetylcarnitine and Carnitine Metabolism. (PubMed, Mol Nutr Food Res) - "Acetylcarnitine has significantly lower bioavailability than carnitine. The intake of both supplements resulted in substantial TMAO production, raising potential health concerns."

Journal

Microbiology and epidemiology of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli isolated from UK residents in England, 2016-2023: what are the risks to public health? (PubMed, J Med Microbiol) - "The most common sequence types (STs) were ST34 (n=202/1,402, 14.4%), ST10 (n=185/1,402, 13.2%), ST200 (n=183/1,402, 13.1%) and ST678 (n=101/1,402, 7.2%), and the most common serotypes were O92:H33 (n=130/1,402, 9.3%), O175:H31 (n=78/1,402, 5.6%) and O99:H10 (n=78/1,402, 5.6%)...AMR was detected in 1,030 out of 1,402 (73.5%) isolates with resistance to fluoroquinolone (n=810/1,402, 57.8%) and beta-lactam (n=807/1,402, 57.6%) antibiotics being the most common.Conclusion. Given the burden of disease caused by EAEC in the community, the high proportion of infections in children and travellers, the risk of the emergence of hybrid STEC/EAEC pathotypes and the high proportion of AMR, we recommend that EAEC should be part of the diagnostic algorithm in the UK."

Journal • Infectious Disease

Decline in Cardiolipin in Hematopoietic Stem Cell during Aging Alters Their Regenerative Potential (ASH 2023) - "To understand the effect of reduced Taz expression on HSC functions, we used a doxycycline inducible, sh-RNA mediated TAZ knock-down (KD) mouse model...In competitive transplant assay, while mid-aged WT HSC treated with vehicle gave rise to a myeloid-bias graft, Alcar supplemented mid-aged WT HSC gave rise to a more balanced graft with increased ratio lymphoid to myeloid cells in the peripheral blood 16 weeks following transplantation, albeit the rescue was partial. This study indicates that HSC mitochondrial membrane lipids become abnormal with aging which causes a decline in HSC function and highlights the critical role of mitochondrial cardiolipin in HSC functions. It implies that metabolite supplementation is a viable option for restoring age-related HSC functional defects."

Bone Marrow Transplantation • Hematological Disorders • Hematological Malignancies • Leukemia • Oncology • Transplantation • TAFAZZIN

REPURPOSING MITOCHONDRIA PROTECTIVE TARGETS FOR ADJUVANT THERAPY IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES (UEGW 2025) - "Aims & Cellular toxicity of the drugs Acipimox, AICAR, ALCAR, Bezafibrate, Epi-743, Idebenone, Metformin, SS-31 and TUDCA was assessed in the intestinal epithelial cell line Mode-K and murine wild-type (WT) small intestinal (SI) organoids. Selected drugs targeting mitochondrial functions restored seeding efficiency, differentiation, and stemness of intestinal organoids from inflamed tissue sections of TNFΔARE mice, TNFΔARE pigs, and CD patients. These findings clearly support the potential of metabolic drug repurposing for adjuvant IBD therapy and indicate putative risks for Metformin."

Clinical • Crohn's disease • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Immunology • Inflammation • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Metabolic Disorders • IL10

HEPATIC MITOCHONDRIAL METABOLISM ASSESSED IN VIVO BY HYPERPOLARIZED [1-13C]- AND [2-13C]PYRUVATE WITH EX VIVO ISOTOPOMER ANALYSIS (AASLD 2025) - "[1-13C]Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) appeared only in fed livers, serving as a PDH-specific biomarker... HP [2-13C]pyruvate could monitor mitochondrial metabolic shifts in the liver by resolving HP products specific to gluconeogenic and oxidative pathways, whereas HP [1-13C]pyruvate could not distinguish these individual routes. The ex vivo isotopomer analysis confirmed the sensitivity of these approaches to nutritional state, demonstrating reduced PDH flux and enhanced redistribution of 13C through the TCA cycle and gluconeogenesis during fasting."

Preclinical • PCK2

Molecular-based evidence for school transmission of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli among apparently healthy children attending nursery, infant, and primary schools in Madrid (Spain). (PubMed, Eur J Pediatr) - "Apparently healthy Spanish schoolchildren may be carriers and potential spreaders of certain EAEC subtypes with gastrointestinal/extra-intestinal pathogenic potential. While transmission within school settings appears to be the most likely explanation for the EAEC genomic clusters identified, particularly among toddlers, extra-school infections through alternative pathways cannot be entirely ruled out."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Pediatrics

Genome sequencing and comparative genome analysis of Clostridium perfringens of animal origin. (PubMed, Microb Pathog) - "Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) defined sequence types (STs) of two Indian isolates (ST126 and ST200) whereas the remaining two isolates were novel., Pangenome analysis indicated an open genome structure, with 18.28% core genes and 81.72% accessory genes. AMR gene analysis revealed tetracycline resistance as the most prevalent, with several strains harbouring multidrug resistance genes. This study underscores the genetic diversity, adaptive evolution, and One Health significance of C. perfringens in animals and highlights the importance of genomics in understanding host-specific virulence and resistance patterns for effective disease surveillance and control."

Journal

Challenges in the Treatment of Narcolepsy and the Positive Impact of Acetyl-L-Carnitine: A Case-Based Review with 20-Year Follow-Up (WSS 2025) - "Initial pharmacologic management included antidepressants, Modafinil, Armodafinil, Adderall, Concerta, Jornay, Vyvanse, and sodium oxybate (Xyrem). This case highlights the multifaceted challenges in narcolepsy management and proposes acetyl-L-carnitine as a potential adjuvant therapy in refractory cases. Given its safety profile and observed benefit in this case, ALCAR warrants further investigation through controlled clinical trials."

Clinical • Review • Barrett Esophagus • Cataplexy • CNS Disorders • Excessive Daytime Sleepiness • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Mental Retardation • Metabolic Disorders • Mood Disorders • Narcolepsy • Psychiatry • Sleep Disorder

Longitudinal Brain Structural, Neurochemical, and Behavioral Changes Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Immature Rat Brain with ALCAR Treatment. (PubMed, Neurochem Res) - "The TBI + ALCAR group performed significantly better compared to TBI + vehicle group in both sensory motor and hippocampal dependent recognition memory. Further studies with the longer duration of ALCAR administration are necessary to adequately assess the efficacy of ALCAR following pediatric TBI."

Journal • Preclinical • CNS Disorders • Pediatrics • Vascular Neurology

Molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections from Aberdeen, Scotland, and their comparison to isolates from England. (PubMed, Microb Genom) - "The bla CTX-M was observed in 71% (33% plasmid-borne), bla TEM in 42%, with all isolates resistant to ceftazidime, cefotaxime and cefuroxime...MLST identified 21 strains, with ST-13 and ST-200 being the most common...The close relatedness of human and cattle ST432 strains suggests potential zoonotic transmission, emphasizing the role of livestock as a reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and the need for genomic epidemiology studies to elucidate transmission pathways and interspecies exchange. A One Health approach integrating human, animal and environmental surveillance would enhance our understanding of the molecular dynamics and evolutionary trajectory of Klebsiella pneumoniae, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance."

Clinical • Journal • Infectious Disease • Pneumonia • ST13 • ST14

Acetyl L-Carnitine Protects Zebrafish Embryos From Verapamil and Inorganic Arsenic-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Developmental Toxicity With No Effect on Supernumerary Motor Neuron Development. (PubMed, J Appl Toxicol) - "Furthermore, acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) completely abolished both developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity induced by sodium arsenite and verapamil cotreatment. We show for the first time that ALCAR prevents toxicities induced by arsenic and verapamil cotreatment in zebrafish embryos, a vertebrate model for investigating chemical toxicity."

Journal • Cardiovascular

Hybrid strains of enterotoxigenic/Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, United Kingdom, 2014-2023. (PubMed, J Med Microbiol) - "The most common sequence types were ST329 and ST200 (n=24 each), and the most frequently detected serotype was O187:H28 (n=25)...Phylogenetic analysis and long-read sequencing of the outbreak strain provided insight into the stepwise acquisition of st and stx and the evolutionary history of STEC-ETEC pathotypes. The integration of epidemiological data and whole-genome sequencing for routine surveillance of gastrointestinal pathogens is key to understanding the emergence of zoonotic hybrid DEC pathotypes and monitoring foodborne threats to public health."

Journal • Gastrointestinal Disorder

Acetyl-l-carnitine alleviates valproate-induced autism-like behaviors through attenuation of hippocampal mitochondrial dysregulation. (PubMed, Neuroscience) - "Collectively, our results indicate that oral administration of ALCAR ameliorates autism-like behaviors, partly through its targeting oxidative stress and mitochondrial biogenesis. This suggests that ALCAR may have potential benefits ASD managing."

Journal • Autism Spectrum Disorder • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • CAT

Co-occurrence of triple carbapenemase genes, blaVIM-2, blaNDM-1, and blaOXA-48 in Enterobacter hormaechei clinical isolates -first report from Croatia. (PubMed, J Chemother) - "Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed susceptibility only to colistin and amikacin. Detailed analysis by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of short reads by Illumina and long reads by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) was additionally performed and showed that both isolates belonged to ST200. They were separated by 98 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) having variations in the number of blaVIM-2 genes on the chromosome, the number of blaNDM-1 genes on the plasmid, non-identical blaNDM-1 plasmids, different plasmid content in general, and only one isolate carried a 94 kb prophage."

Journal

Increasing histone acetylation improves sociability and restores learning and memory in KAT6B-haploinsufficient mice. (PubMed, J Clin Invest) - "Both compounds improved sociability in Kat6b+/- mice, and ALCAR treatment restored learning and memory. These data suggest that a subset of SBBYSS individuals may benefit from postnatal therapeutic interventions."

Epigenetic controller • Journal • Preclinical • Autism Spectrum Disorder • Cognitive Disorders • Developmental Disorders • Genetic Disorders • Mental Retardation • KAT6B

Investigation of the effect of carnitine on cerebral vasospasm in experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage model. (PubMed, Sci Rep) - "Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) can be found in brain tissue and easily crosses the blood-brain barrier...Basilar artery wall thickness increased in all groups except the control group (p < 0.05). In light of all these findings, it was concluded in our study that Carnitine was effective in the resolution of vasospasm in the experimental SAH model."

Journal • Hematological Disorders • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: Evaluation on Plasma Markers and Members of the Neurovascular Unit. (PubMed, Antioxidants (Basel)) - "We aimed to demonstrate the changes in the plasma redox system and nitric oxide (NO) in 32 new ALS-diagnosed patients in treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) compared to healthy controls...Cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential in HUVEC/astrocytes treated with the plasma of ALS patients at T0-T2 were reduced, while the oxidant release increased. Those results, which confirmed the fundamental role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and of the NVU in ALS pathogenesis, can have a double meaning, acting as disease markers at baseline and potential markers of drug effects in clinical practice and during clinical trials."

Journal • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis • CNS Disorders

Anti-Hyperalgesic Efficacy of Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) Against Visceral Pain Induced by Colitis: Involvement of Glia in the Enteric and Central Nervous System. (PubMed, Int J Mol Sci) - "On the other hand, the preventive protocol effectively protected enteric neurons from the inflammatory insult. These findings suggest the putative usefulness of ALCAR as a food supplement for patients suffering from IBDs."

Journal • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Immunology • Inflammation • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • Pain

Hyperpolarized [1-C]Acetyl-l-Carnitine Probes Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Activity In Vivo. (PubMed, ACS Sens) - "These assessments were compared to analogous experiments with the HP [1-C]pyruvate. Our report represents the first study to demonstrate that HP methods using [1-C]ALCAR enable direct analyses of mitochondrial function and TCA cycle activity, which are fundamental to cardiac cell homeostasis."

Journal • Preclinical

Retrospective observational study on the use of acetyl-L-carnitine in ALS. (PubMed, J Neurol) - "ALCAR (Acetyl-L-carnitine) is a donor of acetyl groups and increases the intracellular levels of carnitine, the primary transporter of fatty acids across the mitochondrial membranes...No statistically significant difference was detected in the FVC nor self-sufficiency. Additional evidence should be provided to confirm the efficacy of the drug and provide a rationale for the dosage."

Journal • Observational data • Retrospective data • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis • CNS Disorders

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) in Swedish retail wheat flour. (PubMed, Access Microbiol) - "The most common finding was O187:H28 ST200 with stx, with possible links to cervid hosts. Wildlife associated with crop damage is a plausible explanation for at least some of the surprisingly high frequency of STEC in wheat flour."

Journal • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Infectious Disease

Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Phosphorylation Is Required for 20-Hydroxyecdysone Regulates Ecdysis in Apolygus lucorum. (PubMed, Int J Mol Sci) - "Moreover, as observed by TEM, the thickness of the epidermis of the mirid was significantly increased in 20E and/or AlCAR treatments, molting spaces began to form between the cuticle and epidermal cells, and the molting progress of the mirid was significantly improved. These composite data indicated that AlAMPK, as a phosphorylated form in the 20E pathway, plays an important role in hormonal signaling and, in short, regulating insect molting and metamorphosis by switching its phosphorylation status."

Journal • AMPK

Heterologous Expression and Function of Cholesterol Oxidase: A Review. (PubMed, Protein Pept Lett) - "Heterologous expression of cholesterol oxidase has been considered for several microbial sources, such as Rhodococcus equi, Brevibacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Streptomyces coelicolor, Burkholderia cepacia ST-200, Chromobacterium, and Streptomyces spp. All related publications of numerous researchers and scholars were searched in ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. In this article, the present situation and promotion of heterologous expression of cholesterol oxidase, the role of protease, and the perspective of its possible applications were reviewed."

Journal • Review • Gastroenterology • Hepatology

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as etiological agent of endemic diarrhea in Spain: A prospective multicenter prevalence study with molecular characterization of isolates. (PubMed, Front Microbiol) - "In particular, O126:H27-ST200, O111:H21-ST40, and O92:H33-ST34 were the most important subtypes, with all of them infecting both patients and asymptomatic individuals. Apart from this role as an enteric pathogen, a subset of these domestically acquired EAEC strains revealed an additional urinary/systemic pathogenic potential."

Clinical • Journal • Infectious Disease