A major cause of aging is the deterioration of the energy-producing components of the cell which results in reduced cellular metabolic activity, the accumulation of cellular debris, and eventual death of the cell.

The amino acid L-carnitine helps to maintain cellular energy metabolism by assisting in the transport of fat through the cell membrane and into the mitochondria within the cell, where these fats are oxidized to produce the cellular energy ATP.

Acetyl-l-carnitine is the acetylated ester of the amino acid L-carnitine. Acetyl-l-carnitine and L-carnitine are absorbed into the bloodstream efficiently and both are very effective at carrying fatty acids across the membrane into the cell where they are burned as energy and is utilized efficiently in the mitochondria of the cell.