| L-carnitine is a nutritional supplement that has | | | | athletes. |
| been touted by body builders and other athletes | | | | There is a little more evidence that L-carnitine |
| as a safe and helpful way to create bigger and | | | | may be useful for people with conditions that lead |
| more efficient muscles. Some physicians and | | | | to loss of L-carnitine, for example: |
| researchers have looked at L-carnitine to prevent | | | | *Aging. Some studies suggest that energy and |
| muscle wasting in people who need kidney dialysis; | | | | memory losses may in part be due to decreased |
| alternative medicine purveyors suggest that | | | | levels of L-carnitine in older rats and mice; |
| L-carnitine may stop cellular aging. In order for | | | | L-carnitine has been shown to partially reverse |
| you to make a healthy decision about using | | | | these changes. Large studies are planned to see if |
| L-carnitine, we've put together some information | | | | L-carnitine has this effect on aging humans |
| any potential buyer should have. | | | | *Heart damage. Several studies in humans |
| What is L-carnitine, anyways? | | | | suggest that L-carnitine supplementation after |
| L-carnitine is a modified amino acid, produced in | | | | myocardial infarction (heart attack) may help the |
| the liver. Most amino acids form the building blocks | | | | heart repair damaged cells and help it function |
| of proteins, which in turn provide much of the | | | | better. L-carnitine even seems to help people who |
| structure and function of the body. L-carnitine is | | | | are having angina - the pain that sometimes |
| different than amino acids in that it doesn't form | | | | precedes heart attack. |
| a part of a protein; instead it serves as a delivery | | | | *Muscle loss from kidney disease. The Food and |
| van, moving fats into specialized parts of our cells, | | | | Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use |
| where they can be used for energy. | | | | of L-carnitine in dialysis patients to prevent and |
| Several conditions can result in lowered L-carnitine | | | | treat carnitine deficiency that is caused by kidney |
| levels, including: | | | | disease and dialysis. While it does not work for all |
| -rare genetic (hereditary) conditions | | | | patients who experience muscle weakness and |
| -loss of L-carnitine during dialysis (the mechanical | | | | loss, it is available as an alternative if standard |
| process used to clean the blood in patients whose | | | | treatments aren't working. |
| kidneys can't manage it) | | | | The Short Answer... |
| -certain persons (for example, premature babies) | | | | Unless you have one of a few specific conditions, |
| who may not get enough L-carnitine in their diets | | | | it's not yet clear whether L-carnitine will help you |
| and cannot make adequate amounts in their livers | | | | with your goals. Since for some people (including |
| Where can I get some? | | | | those with seizure disorders, who have |
| Most people synthesize (make) enough L-carnitine | | | | Alzheimer's disease, or who are pregnant and |
| for their needs in the liver. You can also get | | | | nursing) L-carnitine supplements may be |
| significant amounts in your diet from: | | | | dangerous, your best bet might be to wait until |
| -ground beef | | | | more information is available. |
| -pork | | | | Sources Used: |
| -milk | | | | Brass E., "Supplemental carnitine and exercise," |
| -fish | | | | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 72, |
| Even strict vegetarians generally make enough | | | | issue supplement 2, p 618S-623S, 2002 |
| that they don't need to eat meat to have the | | | | Davini P, et al "Controlled study on L-carnitine |
| needed L-carnitine ; they can also get small | | | | therapeutic efficacy in post-infarction," Drugs |
| amounts from sources like avocado, whole wheat | | | | Under Experimental and Clinical Research, Volume |
| bread and asparagus. | | | | 18, issue 8, p 355-365, 1992 |
| Should I be taking L-carnitine supplements? | | | | Hagen T., et al. "Feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic |
| People who have a liver condition that doesn't | | | | acid to old rats significantly improves metabolic |
| allow L-carnitine to be synthesized need to take | | | | function while decreasing oxidative stress," |
| L-carnitine supplements in order to survive; this is | | | | Proceeds of the National Academy of Science, |
| also the case for people who are born with | | | | Volume 99, issue 4, p1870-1875, 2002 |
| kidneys that excrete L-carnitine in large amounts. | | | | National Kidney Foundation, "Adult Guidelines for |
| Because L-carnitine is so important in creating | | | | Maintenance Dialysis: L-carnitine," update 2000 |
| energy, many people swear by it to enhance their | | | | Sakurauchi Y, et al., "Effects of L-carnitine |
| athletic activity. They feel that this is particularly | | | | supplementation on muscular symptoms in |
| important in their muscles, which often need lots | | | | hemodialyzed patients," American Journal of |
| of energy in order to increase in size (as in body | | | | Kidney Disease, Volume 32, p258-264, 1998. |
| building) and to function over long periods of time | | | | Sein, H., "Carnitine and its precursor, |
| (in marathon runners). | | | | gamma-butyrobetaine," In: Kramer K, et al, eds. |
| Unfortunately, studies to date have not shown | | | | Nutraceuticals in Health and Disease Prevention, |
| conclusively that supplementation improves | | | | New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, p 217-256, 2001 |
| athletic performance or muscle bulk. Some | | | | Wachter, S. et al, "Long-term administration of |
| research suggests though that larger studies need | | | | L-carnitine to humans: effect on skeletal muscle |
| to be done to see if there is an effect on certain | | | | carnitine content and physical performance," Clinica |
| types of exercise or certain sub-groups of | | | | Chimica Acta, Volume 318, issues 1-2, p. |