A 2007 double-blind, multicenter trial (n=102) showed ALC 1,500 mg/day significantly improved tender point count, total myalgic score, depression, and musculoskeletal pain compared to placebo.[9] A 2015 RCT found ALC 1,500 mg/day comparable to duloxetine 60 mg/day for pain and depression.[8] Most notably, a 2023 RCT demonstrated that adding PEA 1,200 mg/day + ALC 2,000 mg/day to ongoing duloxetine + pregabalin therapy produced significantly greater improvements in Widespread Pain Index, FIQR, and FASmod scores.[7] Role in Treatment: ALC can be used as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in fibromyalgia
Known for its skin brightening effects, glutathione also supports immune function and neutralizes free radicals
However, these experiments were performed on previously frozen PBMCs, which have been shown not to elicit a type I IFN response following CVB3 infection (115)
Pharmacol Res 32:383389 Virmani MA, Caso V, Spadoni A, Rossi S, Russo F, Gaetani F (2001) The action of acetyl-l-carnitine on the neurotoxicity evoked by amyloid fragments and peroxide on primary rat cortical neurones