What is Carnitine?

L-carnitine is made in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine, and is needed to release energy from fat. It transports fatty acids into mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells. Dairy and red meat contain the greatest amounts of carnitine. Therefore, people who have a limited intake of meat and dairy products tend to have lower L-carnitine intakes. Some athletes say that L-carnitine improves athletic performance. L-carnitine may make exercise more productive, particularly among obese.

L-carnitine, which is normally manufactured by the human body, has been popular as a potential ergogenic aid (i.e., having the ability to increase work capacity), because of its role in the conversion of fat to energy. However, while some studies have found that L-carnitine improves certain measures of muscle physiology, research on the effects of 2g to 4 grams of carnitine per day on performance has produced inconsistent results. L-carnitine may be effective in certain intense exercise activities leading to exhaustion, but recent studies have reported that L-carnitine supplementation does not benefit non-exhaustive or even marathon-level endurance exercise, anaerobic performance, or lean body mass in weight lifters.

Question answered by: Doug Lawrenson

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