The latest research shows that the level of acetyl-L-carnitine in the blood of depressed patients is low. As a biomarker of depression, this chemical promise to open up new antidepressants that work faster.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is a common human chemistry that is abundant in muscles and brain and is an important mediator of systemic fat metabolism and energy production. In the brain, acetyl-L-carnitine plays an important role in the inhibition of excessive activation of excitatory neurons in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.

The Acetyl-l-carnitine deficiency in patients with major depressive disorder published in the PNAS shows that the level of acetyl-L-carnitine in the blood of depressed patients is significantly lower than that of healthy people. Blood acetyl-L-carnitine levels are particularly low in patients with severe depression and in patients with early onset of depression.

Previous studies have found that oral or intravenous acetyl-L-carnitine can reverse the depressive symptoms of mice, and the symptoms of depression in mice can be improved within a few days. Currently commonly used antidepressants take 2 to 4 weeks to work in animal experiments and human patients.

In the pharmacy, acetyl-L-carnitine is often sold as an over-the-counter health product. Researchers remind the public not to buy it for the treatment of depression. Acetyl-L-carnitine is currently an important biomarker for depression, and whether supplementation of this substance can help improve the symptoms of people with depression requires large-scale clinical studies.