Carnitine, a nutrient that assists the body in turning fat into energy, is produced in the liver and kidneys. Carnitine is stored in muscles, the heart, brain, and sperm. Most often, our bodies make enough carnitine for normal functioning. In rare cases, a person may be deficient in carnitine because of a health condition or due to a medication side effect. Alpha-lipoic acid helps turn glucose into energy because it is an antioxidant that is made in the body and found in every human cell. Always seek the advice of a health care professional before taking any supplement.

Heart Disease

When used in combination with conventional medical treatment, carnitine reduces symptoms of stable angina, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It can also improve the ability of those with angina to exercise without chest pain. Chest pain should not be self-treated with carnitine; always seek medical attention for acute chest pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the numbness, tingling and pain felt by diabetics who have nerve damage in their limbs. According to the UMMC, both alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine help reduce pain and increase normal feeling in affected nerves. In Europe, alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years for this purpose. Intravenous doses of alpha-lipoic acid can help reduce peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

Aging

In 2009, the Linus Pauling Institute stated that the combination of carnitine and alpha lipoic acid supplements resulted in improved memory and better metabolism with a higher energy level. The Linus Pauling Institute also reports that taking these supplements as an adult reduces age-related damage to a variety of tissues like heart, skeletal muscle, brain tissues.