L-CARNITIN
Carnitine is a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps with energy production in cells.
Some potential benefits include:
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Enhanced Exercise Performance
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Weight Loss Support
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Muscle Recovery
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Heart Health
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Brain Function
L-carnitine is taken as an injection or supplement to help with certain medical conditions and support wellness goals.
Price: $25
What is L-Carnitine?
L-carnitine is a type of carnitine. Carnitines are amino acid derivatives that play a key role in energy production by transporting long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) into mitochondria, the cell's power plant. Since LCFAs are the main fuel source for muscle, L-carnitine is essential in energy metabolism.
Also known as levocarnitine, L-carnitine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat carnitine deficiency. This disorder has various causes, such as genetics or secondary to dialysis treatments for chronic kidney disease. Levocarnitine is available by prescription as an oral tablet, an oral solution, and an injectable solution (brand name: Carnitor).
Carnitine is especially important for heart muscle to function properly. If untreated, people deficient in carnitine are at risk for cardiomyopathy (heart muscle damage) and even sudden cardiac death.
What are L-Carnitine benefits?
Helps with energy production
Mitochondria are structures in cells that are responsible for respiration and create the primary energy source in the body. Naturally occurring carnitine plays a key role in this process, as well as helping to clean out cellular waste so that the body can work more efficiently.
Usually, the body makes enough carnitine naturally to support these processes, so what happens to energy levels when you get an L-carnitine injection?
Studies show that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation may benefit from the energy-boosting benefits of L-carnitine to help with fatigue, quality of sleep, and overall mood. Other research on L-carnitine and energy levels has focused mainly on athletes, showing some potential benefits helping with recovery after training and boosting anaerobic performance. Anaerobic refers to activities that cause your cells to break down sugar for energy without using oxygen-–typically short, high-intensity exercise.
Aids weight loss
L-carnitine is often marketed as a weight loss tool by medical spas or supplement companies. Its ability to help support energy production and lean muscle building means it may help people with their overall weight loss goals.
While it may not be drastic, researchers have found that supplementing L-carnitine can help reduce BMI, body weight, and fat mass by a modest amount. This is especially true for people who are overweight or obese.
Improves exercise performance
One of the go-to uses of injecting L-carnitine is to increase athletic performance and improve exercise. While many people anecdotally report benefits, there is a lack of consistent research that supports this claim.
Other research, however, suggests that L-carnitine may make a significant impact when it comes to increasing lean muscle. This, in combination with its ability to reduce muscle damage and promote recovery after exercise, is one of the reasons it's popular amongst bodybuilders.
Supports heart health
People with heart conditions tend to have low levels of carnitine, so it makes sense that taking carnitine can help support heart health. Injecting L-carnitine has been shown to help reduce hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, and other conditions that can contribute to cardiovascular issues.
Supports brain function
It’s not just physical performance that can be enhanced with L-carnitine; this compound may come with brain-boosting benefits as well. Research supports its potential to help improve mental function in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Keep in mind that the results of this research may not apply to your unique situation. More research is needed to learn how L-carnitine injections might affect brain function in healthy individuals.
