Carnitine, or L-carnitine, helps your body turn fat into energy. Usually, your body makes its own carnitine, but some medical conditions, such as heart disease, can inhibit your body's ability to make it's own carnitine. Some studies have suggested that taking carnitine supplements can interfere with your body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone. This might aid in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
Carnitine
Some people take L-carnitine to increase their endurance or help them lose weight, but little scientific evidence exists to support these uses. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that L-carnitine shows promise for treating erectile dysfunction and male infertility. Red meat, fish, dairy products, asparagus, peanut butter and avocados are some dietary sources of carnitine.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a form of thyroid disease in which your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. This can lead to weight loss, anxiety, heart palpitations, insomnia and other symptoms. In the November 2004 issue of the "Annals of the New York Academy of Science," researchers from the University of Messina School of Medicine in Messina, Italy, reported that 2,000 to 4,000 milligrams of L- carnitine daily prevented or diminished the symptoms of hyperthyroidism in clinical trials.
Enlarged Thyroid
One treatment for an enlarged thyroid is to administer high doses of thyroid hormone. This sometimes shrinks the thyroid. But the side effects of high doses of thyroid hormone, including heart palpitations and bone loss, make this treatment difficult for many patients to tolerate. The New York University Langone School of Medicine reports that L-carnitine can reduce the side effects of this treatment.
Precautions
Don't try to self-treat with L-carnitine. Consult your doctor first. Carnitine can interact with some medications, so inform your doctor of any prescription or nonprescription drugs you take. If you suffer from high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney disease, diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, you shouldn't take L-carnitine without a doctor's supervision.
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