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Feb 8

Whats L-Carnitine, and Does It Live Up to the Hype? – Greatist

Long Term Weight Loss Comments Off on Whats L-Carnitine, and Does It Live Up to the Hype? – Greatist

Created for Greatist by the experts at Healthline. Read more

Last week your trainer hyped it as a workout recovery supplement. Then yesterday your co-worker raved about its fat-torching prowess. Rumor has it L-carnitine is a fat-burning, brain-boosting, performance-enhancing machine of a supplement.

But is it all its cracked up to be? Here are the details on L-carnitine.

If the name has you craving some juicy carne, youre actually on the right track. L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative found in meat and animal products. Lucky for the vegans in the house, our bodies can also make it.

Whether you know it or not, youre already familiar with L-carnitine. Your body relies on it every day. Its responsible for fast-tracking fatty acids to your mitochondria, which burn the fat into energy. L-carnitine is basically the low-key conveyor belt sending your fat to the incinerator.

Some signs youre deficient include:

These symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions, so talk to your healthcare provider before you jump on the supplement train.

There are several types of carnitine. L-carnitine kinda steals the spotlight since its the one in red meat and most supplements.

Meet the others:

Bottom line:

ALC and L-carnitine are probably your best bets for a general supplement. But its also important to take a look at the different types in relation to your #goals.

Almost all the L-carnitine in your body is stored in your muscles. The rest is chillin in your liver and bloodstream.

Right now your L-carnitine stores are busy keeping your mitochondria, aka your cells engines, fueled up. And since amino acids play a lot of roles, L-carnitine also picks up toxins and dumps them outside the cell walls. What a gem.

Bottom line:

L-carnitine lives in your muscles, where it shovels fatty acids into cells so they can be burned for energy. Your body makes L-carnitine, but you can boost your level through food or supplements.

Popping L-carnitine might sound like a pretty convenient way drop a little weight. But lets keep it 100: Sure, L-carnitine is responsible for shoveling fatty acids into the furnace, but thats just a teeny, tiny part of the metabolic process.

Despite claims from supplement companies, there just isnt much medical evidence of L-carnitines weight loss superpowers.

Heres what we know:

If youre generally healthy, you probably already produce enough L-carnitine. But your biological clock wreaks havoc on more than baby-making and crows feet. Age can cut into your L-carnitine stores (so can diabetes and genetic conditions).

Studies on animals have suggested that L-carnitine can boost function in aging brains and possibly protect brain cells from damage.

Unfortunately, there isnt much research yet on whether taking L-carnitine boosts brain power in younger, healthier people.

Lets start with the good news: A 2013 review found that L-carnitine helped heart attack patients recover quickly. Since all the carnitines prefer to do their work inside muscle tissue, it makes sense that their presence is good for the heart.

But that same year, a study in mice found that L-carnitine in red meat might increase levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which could cause clogged arteries.

What gives? A 2004 review of older medical research suggested that L-carnitine does the most for people whove already had a heart attack. The jurys still out on exactly how it could help or harm healthy hearts.

Some research says L-carnitine supports workout #goals in the long term. Typically, L-carnitine is a slow burn. Dont expect it to kick in overnight like caffeine or creatine. Stick with it and you might be running harder, better, faster, stronger in a few months.

On the flip side, a small study of professional athletes found that those who received 3 to 4 grams of L-carnitine immediately before a workout had better endurance.

Heres how L-carnitine might improve your workouts over the long haul:

Living with type 2 diabetes takes a whole lotta discipline. But theres evidence that taking L-carnitine might alleviate some symptoms and risks.

Some research suggests acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) dials down nerve pain and weakness caused by type 2 diabetes. A 2005 study suggested L-carnitine supplements could also lower blood sugar.

There isnt much new research on links between type 2 diabetes and L-carnitine (weight loss studies get all the love, amiright?). But the bottom line is that if youre dosing properly and checking with your doctor, L-carnitine is way more likely to help than to hurt.

L-carnitine is technically FDA-approved for just one use: treating carnitine deficiency. But doses of less than 3 grams a day seem safe for pretty much anyone. Taking too much (2 to 3 grams, depending on your body) can cause mild side effects, including:

And, as we mentioned, a 2013 study in mice found that L-carnitine in red meat might contribute to clogged arteries, although more research is needed.

tl;dr

More medical studies are needed, but up to 2 grams a day seems safe for most people. One animal study suggested that L-carnitine supplements could raise your risk of blocked arteries.

Theres no one size fits most answer for whether or not you should add a bottle of L-carnitine to your medicine cabinet.

Technically, your body can whip up L-carnitine without help, thank you very much. The main things to consider are your diet and whether your body is healthy enough to create what it needs.

The folks most likely to benefit from supplementation:

If you still wanna give L-carnitine a whirl, remember to research the specific carnitine type thats right for your goals. Chatting with your doctor isnt a bad idea either.

Most people supplement with 500 to 2,000 milligrams of L-carnitine per day. Two grams (2,000 milligrams) seems to be the sweet spot for long-term effectiveness without health risks.

Pill-popping isnt the only way to give yourself a little L-carnitine love. You can find it in foods, liquids, powders, and even injections.

While the best way to score nutrients is through diet and a healthy lifestyle, supplements can help. If youre concerned about mixing meds, its always a good idea to check with your doctor.

Your body absorbs L-carnitine from food sources more quickly than from supplements. Sneak in some L-carnitine with a 3-ounce serving (about the size of your palm) of these meats:

Meat is your best bet, but other animal products deliver itty-bitty doses of L-carnitine too:

Mix a concentrated liquid supplement into your morning glass of water or OJ if youre not a fan of swallowing pills. Bonus: You can try ALL the flavors! Start slow, with a 1,000-milligram dose per day.

Cost is the main drawback to liquid supplements. Youll get more bang for your buck with powder or pill forms.

Powdered L-carnitine supplements work well for those who already whip up a protein shake or smoothie in the morning. Add a scoop (1,000 milligrams) along with your collagen or protein powder.

Theres not much difference in cost between powder and pills, so pick whatever strikes your fancy.

Injections and IV doses of L-carnitine are best left up to the pros. In a 2014 study of people who had an L-carnitine deficiency, switching from pills to IV therapy had a positive effect on cholesterol levels.

If you think your body is L-carnitine deficient, its best to talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options and sources.

Most medical research on humans taking L-carnitine has involved pills, so sticking to this supplement form gives you the highest chance of getting good results. Vegetarian capsules are available, so its a #win for those who prefer their L-carnitine without the carne.

L-carnitine is known as a fat-burner because thats what it does on the cellular level. Studies on leveraging that for weight loss have been mixed.

Of all the different carnitine types, L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine show the most promise. Theres evidence that these forms are good for your brain and heart and even for disease prevention.

Supplements are a good idea for people with naturally low L-carnitine levels: older adults, vegans, and vegetarians. But its best to chat with your doctor before taking any new supplement.

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Whats L-Carnitine, and Does It Live Up to the Hype? - Greatist

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