REVIEW - PRIMAFORCE PRIMAFORCE ALCALEAN REVIEW

SUMMARY

OUR REVIEW

Introduction

If you’ve had a glance at many of the weight loss products on the market you have likely seen the use of L-Carnitine. Technically speaking, L-Carnitine is not an amino acid, but actually a short-chain carboxylic acid which is produced by the body from two other amino acids – lysine and methionine.

L-Carnitine is considered to be beneficial for the body for a number of reasons, however its primary role is to assist in transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells, where it becomes oxidized to produce energy. Due to Carnitine’s role in fat burning, it is suggested that supplementing with L-Carnitine may aid in weight loss, along with assisting in increasing energy, enhancing recovery and improving resistance to muscle fatigue. Sounding a little like a wonder supplement I tested out Primaforce’s L-Carnitine supplement called Alcalean to see if it did provide any of the suggested benefits.

Effectiveness

To date scientific studies on the Effectiveness of L-Carnitine have been largely inconclusive, some study’s have shown that L-Carnitine is useful in increasing fat oxidation and improving cardiac performance whilst others have demonstrated that supplementing with L-Carnitine had no real effect in assisting weightloss with exercise.

Earlier this year, I undertook a cut focused around calorie reduction program along with regular exercise and supplementing with Primaforce’s Alcalean. Throughout my program I did make significant reductions in body fat, however that exact role (if any) that L-Carnitine may have played is not clear. 

Generally I supplemented with L-Carnitine first thing in the morning and again 45 min to 60 min prior to a cardio session, which was most commonly high intensity interval training. What I did find was when using Primaforce’s L-Carnitine, I tended to have more energy and focus when completing high intensity interval sessions and a greater resistance to fatigue. Knowing the purpose of the supplement there is a chance this may have just been a placebo effect, however generally I did believe that the Alcalean did offer some assistance in my results. In addition, provided I was getting results and it helped me maintain a positive mindset I was happy to continue supplementing throughout this period.

Nutrient Profile

Although L-Carnitine is included in many fat burning supplements most of these products only contain relatively small doses which are unlikely to contain enough of the nutrient to derive any real benefit. Primaforce’s Alcalean capsules on the other hand are manufactured with the sole purpose of supplying a larger dose, with each capsule contain 500mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine. Recommended dosages for L-Carnitine are in the vicinity of 2-4grams and while you can obtain the Carnitine from natural sources namely foods such as red meat, fish and dairy, supplementing ensures you obtain the necessary amounts to effectively maximize any of the potential benefits. With 500mg in each capsule Primaforce’s Alcalean contains a healthy enough dose to assist in reaching the recommended requirements without going overboard.

Value for Money

Primaforce’s Alcalean is available in the supplement store for $47.70 a bottle. Each bottle provides 100 capsules and offers a lot better value for money than some of the other brands on the market, which supply a similar Carnitine dose, although only contain around 60 capsules for a similar price.

Depending on your diet specifications you’ll want to dose at least one capsule before a workout and also potentially supplementing another 1-2 times a day, to ensure you are getting an adequate dose to fully benefit from any potential effects, especially for the purposes of weight loss. Its cost shouldn’t really break the bank and offers the best value for money from other competing brands.

Overall

For those looking to experiment with supplementation to assist in weightloss goals Primaforce’s Alcalean might have some appeal. However, the evidence on its ability to assist in weight loss is not reliable enough for me to substantially recommend L-Carnitine as a definitive weight loss supplement. In my opinion when supplementing with Primaforce’s Alcalean I did notice an improvement in my energy levels which I believe was simply more than a placebo effect and it allowed me to ensure my Carnitine intake was at a high enough to receive any of the potential benefits it may offer weightloss and others. At 1-2 capsules a day and 100 capsules for under $50, in my opinion Primaforce’s Acetyl is at least worthy of trial for those looking for a bit of assistance or may have plateaued in their current weightloss program.