What is L-Carnitine?
Learn about the health benefits of supplementing the amino acid L-carnitine
Are you looking for ways to improve or maintain your physical fitness as you age? You need to know about L-carnitine.
Benefits of L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is the biologically active form of carnitine, which is an amino acid that plays a crucial role in energy production on a cellular level. Carnitine helps move fatty acids to fuel the mitochondria, which are like the “engines” of your cells. Mitochondrial health is important for healthy aging.
Other benefits of L-carnitine include:
Weight Loss: Considering that L-carnitine’s main purpose is to help cells burn fatty acids, it seems logical that L-carnitine can be useful for weight loss. However, what may surprise you is that not all individuals will benefit. Research has shown little effectiveness in young, fit people. However, when individuals who are obese and/or older take L-carnitine, it can have an impact. In one analysis of nine studies dealing with these populations, participants lost an average of 3 extra pounds by taking L-carnitine.
Brain Function: The acetyl form of L-carnitine can be helpful for improving brain function. For example, research has shown that daily use of acetyl-L-carnitine helped protect against cognitive decline in healthy older individuals, and also helped reverse decline in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
Insulin Sensitivity: In one study, L-carnitine helped individuals with type 2 diabetes have a better blood sugar response to a high-carb meal. L-carnitine has also been linked to reduced symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Heart Health: L-carnitine has been shown to improve cardiac function in individuals diagnosed with heart disease, when used in conjunction with prescribed medications.
Exercise Performance: Although the effects of L-carnitine on exercise performance can take weeks or months to become apparent, they are noticeable. These effects may include:
- Increased oxygen supply to muscles
- Improved recovery after exercise, including reduced muscle soreness
- Increased blood flow and nitric oxide production for improved stamina
Food Sources of L-Carnitine
L-carnitine can be found in meat and dairy products. The best sources of L-carnitine are beef and pork, which provide 81 mg and 24 mg per 3 oz serving respectively. Milk provides 8 mg per 3 oz serving, fish provides 5 mg, and chicken provides just 3 mg.
Your body can also synthesize its own natural L-carnitine from lysine (found beans, red meat, pork, chicken, cheese, and eggs) and methionine (found in beans, eggs, fish, garlic, lentils, and onions).
Want to Supplement L-Carnitine?
Because L-carnitine can be difficult to get from dietary sources alone, supplementing is the best way to boost your intake. At Renew Youth, with offer L-carnitine as part of our prescription injectable nutrient formulas. Taking your supplements in injectable form is ideal because you don’t have to worry about taking in too many calories from food sources, and because you get a better absorption rate than you would with an oral supplement.
To learn more, contact us today at 800-859-7511.
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