L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is not an amino acid in the strict sense, however L-Carnitine bears many resemblances to amino acids and is usually grouped under this heading.

L-Carnitine is used by the body to transport long chain fatty acids to the "power sources" in your cells called mitochondria, which are where your calories get "burned" or oxidized for energy. Since this fat burning is such a major source of muscular energy, deficiencies in L-Carnitine are manifested as low energy levels and muscular weakness.

If you aren't burning fat effectively, the fat will build up and get stored in your body. This then leads to a variety of health problems caused by fatty build-ups. L-Carnitine supplementation can help prevent fatty build-ups in the heart and liver (especially likely if you are a regular consumer of alcoholic beverages).

And, if you're among those people avoiding exercise because of the pain and exhaustion that often comes afterward -- and especially when you don't workout regularly -- getting enough L-Carnitine may make it easier for you to work exercise into your schedule.

Research has shown that adequate intakes of the L-Carnitine may not only lengthen and optimize workouts but also reduce pain in the days following for all types of athletes, including "weekend warriors".

Several studies have confirmed L-Carnitine's relationship to exercise. Researchers have tested people at all athletic levels, with and without adequate L-Carnitine, for indicators of recovery. They found that people had significantly less post-workout pain and tenderness and less post-exercise muscle damage with L-Carnitine supplementation than with placebo. In one study, 75 percent of participants saw a 20 percent improved ability to exert energy within 25 minutes after exercising.

L-Carnitine deficiencies can appear as weight gain, mental confusion or cloudiness, angina (heart pain) and fatigue.

Putting it all together, L-Carnitine emerges as a great supplement as it:

helps your cells to burn fat (making it excellent addition to a weight loss program)
increases energy
improves heart and liver health all at the same time
reduces post-exercise muscle damage, pain and tenderness

Where can you get a good L-Carnitine supplement?

Tahiti Trim Plan 40™ Appetite Suppressant -- Highly Recommended. Not only does this contain L-Carnitine, it also has Garcinia Cambogia and Chromium Picolinate in a convenient capsule that works together to help you suppress your food cravings without feeling hungry.

Still got a question on L-Carnitine? Email us at and we'll do our best to answer any questions you have... We're here to help!

References

Arenas J, Ricoy JR, Encinas AR, Pola P, D'Iddio S, Zeviani M, Didonato S, Corsi M. Carnitine in muscle, serum, and urine of nonprofessional athletes: effects of physical exercise, training, and L-carnitine administration. Muscle Nerve 1991 Jul;14(7):598-604
Nuesch R, Rossetto M, Martina B. Plasma and urine carnitine concentrations in well-trained athletes at rest and after exercise. Influence of L-carnitine intake. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1999;25(4):167-71.
Malone JI, Schocken DD, Morrison AD, Gilbert-Barness E. Diabetic cardiomyopathy and carnitine deficiency. J Diabetes Complications 1999 Mar-Apr;13(2):86-90.
K L Goa and R N Brogden. L-carnitine -- a preliminary review of its pharmacokinetics, and its therapeutic use in ischemic cardiac disease and primary and secondary carnitine deficiencies in relationship to its role in fatty acid metabolism. Drugs 34 1987:1-24.
M Mancini et al. Controlled study on the therapeutic efficacy of propionyl-L-carnitine in patients with congestive heart failure. Arzneim Forsch 42 1992:1101-4.
Cacciatore L, Cerio R, Ciarimboli M, Cocozza M, Coto V, D'Alessandro A, D'Alessandro L, Grattarola G, Imparato L, Lingetti M, et al. The therapeutic effect of L-carnitine in patients with exercise-induced stable angina: a controlled study. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1991;17(4):225-35.
Bartels GL, Remme WJ, Pillay M, Schonfeld DH, Kruijssen DA. Effects of L-propionylcarnitine on ischemia-induced myocardial dysfunction in men with angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol 1994 Jul 15;74(2):125-30.
Kamikawa T, Suzuki Y, Kobayashi A, Hayashi H, Masumura Y, Nishihara K, Abe M, Yamazaki N. Effects of L-carnitine on exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina pectoris. Jpn Heart J 1984 Jul;25(4):587-97.
Cherchi A, Lai C, Angelino F, Trucco G, Caponnetto S, Mereto PE, Rosolen G, Manzoli U, Schiavoni G, Reale A, et al. Effects of L-carnitine on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled crossover study. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 1985 Oct;23(10):569-72.
Bartels GL, Remme WJ, Holwerda KJ, Kruijssen DA. Anti-ischaemic efficacy of L-propionylcarnitine--a promising novel metabolic approach to ischaemia? Eur Heart J 1996 Mar;17(3):414-20.
Volek, J. S., W. J. Kraemer, M. R. Rubin, A. L. Gomez, N. A. Ratamess and P. Gaynor (2002). "L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress." Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 282(2): E474-82.
Barker, G. A., S. Green, C. D. Askew, A. A. Green and P. J. Walker (2001). "Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine on exercise performance in peripheral arterial disease." Med Sci Sports Exerc 33(9): 1415-22.
Benvenga, S., R. M. Ruggeri, A. Russo, D. Lapa, A. Campenni and F. Trimarchi (2001). "Usefulness of L-carnitine, a naturally occurring peripheral antagonist of thyroid hormone action, in iatrogenic hyperthyroidism: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial." J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(8): 3579-94.
Brass, E. P., S. Adler, K. E. Sietsema, W. R. Hiatt, A. M. Orlando and A. Amato (2001). "Intravenous L-carnitine increases plasma carnitine, reduces fatigue, and may preserve exercise capacity in hemodialysis patients." Am J Kidney Dis 37(5): 1018-28.
Center, S. A., J. Harte, D. Watrous, A. Reynolds, T. D. Watson, P. J. Markwell, D. S. Millington, P. A. Wood, A. E. Yeager and H. N. Erb (2000). "The clinical and metabolic effects of rapid weight loss in obese pet cats and the influence of supplemental oral L-carnitine." J Vet Intern Med 14(6): 598-608.
Colonna, P. and S. Iliceto (2000). "Myocardial infarction and left ventricular remodeling: results of the CEDIM trial. Carnitine Ecocardiografia Digitalizzata Infarto Miocardico." Am Heart J 139(2 Pt 3): S124-30.
Hiatt, W. R., J. G. Regensteiner, M. A. Creager, A. T. Hirsch, J. P. Cooke, J. W. Olin, G. N. Gorbunov, J. Isner, Y. V. Lukjanov, M. S. Tsitsiashvili, T. F. Zabelskaya and A. Amato (2001). "Propionyl-L-carnitine improves exercise performance and functional status in patients with claudication." Am J Med 110(8): 616-22.
Iyer, R., A. Gupta, A. Khan, S. Hiremath and Y. Lokhandwala (1999). "Does left ventricular function improve with L-carnitine after acute myocardial infarction?" J Postgrad Med 45(2): 38-41.
Loster, H., K. Miehe, M. Punzel, O. Stiller, H. Pankau and J. Schauer (1999). "Prolonged oral L-carnitine substitution increases bicycle ergometer performance in patients with severe, ischemically induced cardiac insufficiency." Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 13(6): 537-46.
Rizos, I. (2000). "Three-year survival of patients with heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and L-carnitine administration." Am Heart J 139(2 Pt 3): S120-3.
Rubin, M. R., J. S. Volek, A. L. Gomez, N. A. Ratamess, D. N. French, M. J. Sharman and W. J. Kraemer (2001). "Safety measures of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation in healthy men." J Strength Cond Res 15(4): 486-90.
Scarpini, E., G. Sacilotto, P. Baron, M. Cusini and G. Scarlato (1997). "Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathies in HIV+ patients." J Peripher Nerv Syst 2(3): 250-2.
Sirtori, C. R., L. Calabresi, S. Ferrara, F. Pazzucconi, A. Bondioli, D. Baldassarre, A. Birreci and A. Koverech (2000). "L-carnitine reduces plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with hyper Lp(a)." Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 10(5): 247-51.
Sorbi, S., P. Forleo, C. Fani and S. Piacentini (2000). "Double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial with L-acetylcarnitine in patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia." Clin Neuropharmacol 23(2): 114-8.
Turpeinen, A. K., J. T. Kuikka, E. Vanninen, J. Yang and M. I. Uusitupa (2000). "Long-term effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on myocardial 123I-MIBG uptake in patients with diabetes." Clin Auton Res 10(1): 13-6.

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