Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) vs. Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride
Among 2,330 on-market l-carnitine products with an identifiable primary form, 27.6% use Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) (644 products) and 23.3% use Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride (542).
| Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) | Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality tier | Unrated | Unrated |
| L-Carnitine by weight | 79.3% | 67.3% |
| Share of market | 27.6% | 23.3% |
| On-market products | 644 | 542 |
| Median declared dose | 396.5 mg middle half: 158.6–500 | 336.5 mg middle half: 134.6–400.15 |
| Most common brands | Wonder Laboratories, Source Naturals, XYMOGEN | Core Nutritionals, Vitamin World, Gamma Labs |
Doses are declared per serving in mg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).
Why Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) is unrated
A different molecule from L-carnitine with its own evidence base (diabetic neuropathy, mood); no human study comparing ALC with L-carnitine on carnitine delivery or the same outcomes was located, so no tier is assigned.
Source: Sima AA et al. 2005, Diabetes Care 28(1):89-94, PMID 15616239
Why Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride is unrated
Same ALC molecule as a hydrochloride salt; no human comparison of salts.
Source: Sima AA et al. 2005, PMID 15616239
Tiers summarize published comparative bioavailability or outcome evidence for each form (see methodology).
This page describes the market; it is not a recommendation to take either form. Talk to a clinician about what's right for you.
Other l-carnitine comparisons
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate vs. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate vs. Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate vs. L-Carnitine Fumarate
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate vs. L-Carnitine Hydrochloride
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) vs. L-Carnitine Fumarate
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) vs. L-Carnitine Hydrochloride
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride vs. L-Carnitine Fumarate
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride vs. L-Carnitine Hydrochloride
- L-Carnitine Fumarate vs. L-Carnitine Hydrochloride