L-carnitine, or carnitine, is an important nutrient that your body uses to metabolize fats to utilize as energy. Your body manufactures carnitine, but people with certain health conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, may need extra carnitine. Diabetic neuropathy occurs when uncontrolled blood-glucose levels in the blood cause nerve damage. Before you start taking carnitine, talk with your doctor about the safety issues and correct dosage.
Function
Carnitine is stored in your body's tissues and appears to reduce stress from oxidation or damage, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Carnitine may promote nerve regeneration and reduce pain from nerve damage due to diabetic neuropathy. Carnitine supplementation might also prevent nerve damage to the heart due to diabetes, a condition called diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Other Uses
In addition to treating diabetic neuropathy, carnitine supplements may also help treat cardiovascular conditions such as angina, congestive heart failure, heart attacks and intermittent claudication, a type of artery disease, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You might also take carnitine to help treat Peyronie's disease, hyperthyroidism, male erectile dysfunction and infertility or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Don't take carnitine supplements for any reason until first consulting your doctor.
Potential
Carnitine supplements might have the potential to help treat Alzheimer's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, high cholesterol and HIV/AIDS wasting, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Taking carnitine also might reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. The supplement may promote weight loss and correct a deficiency related to dialysis treatments for kidney disease, notes UMMC. Other potential uses for carnitine supplements include treating depression, celiac disease, liver cirrhosis, fibromyalgia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as well as improving physical performance in sports or exercise, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. No widely accepted scientific evidence supports the use of carnitine supplementation for any of these purposes.
Dosage
Carnitine supplements come in different forms, including regular carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine. For diabetic neuropathy, you would likely take the regular L-carnitine form at a dosage rate of 500 to 1,000 milligrams three times daily, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Usually, the dosage recommended for diabetic neuropathy is up to a total of 3 grams of L-carnitine per day, explains UMMC. Ask your physician for the specific dosage of carnitine that's right for you.
Warning
While taking carnitine supplements, you might experience side effects such as diarrhea, headaches, heartburn, indigestion, blurred vision or high blood pressure, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. These side effects are rare, however. Carnitine supplements can interact negatively with certain medications such as the HIV/AIDS drug AZT, the anticonvulsant drug valproic acid, Accutane for acne and the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, cautions UMMC. You should also avoid taking carnitine if you have low thyroid-hormone levels or are taking thyroid medications, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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