Studies have evaluated the effectiveness of L-carnitine in the fight against disease. It has shown promise in many areas, including heart disease, male fertility and cognitive disorders. However, no evidence has shown efficacy in the areas of weight loss or exercise tolerance. If you are considering this supplement for disease prevention, consult your doctor before starting it. He can make sure it fits in with your whole medical picture.
Uses
L-carnitine derives from the amino acids lysine and methionine, and it assists the process of turning fat into energy in the body. There are three types of carnitine that are studied: L-carnitine, propionyl-L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. L-carnitine shows promise in the fight against angina or chest pain, clogged arteries and following a heart attack. Propionyl-L-carintine studies center around congestive heart failure. Alzheimer's disease and male sexual function are two areas applicable to acetyl-L-carnitine testing.
Dosages
Dosages for L-caritine are the same regardless of the type of supplement you are using, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. The recommended dose is 500 mg to 1,000 mg three times per day for all three types. However, the Linus Pauling Institute recommends that you take the acetyl-L-carnitine form of this nutrient because the acetyl group contributes to the creation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is important in Alzheimer's disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends L-carnitine 600 mg to 1,200 mg three times per day for heart disease, 300 mg to 1,000 mg three times per day for male infertility and 1.5 g to 2 g per day for chest pain and heart failure.
Safety
L-carnitine in all of its forms has very few safety concerns. Some gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are related to this supplement. Doses over 3 g can produce a fishy body odor, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. An increase in agitation with Alzheimer's patients and an increase in seizures with seizure patients are also reported with acetyl-L-carnitine. It interferes with the action of the drugs AZT, doxorubicin, isotretinoin and valproic acid. If you have an underactive thyroid, it may affect your thyroid levels.
Sources
You can eat L-carnitine from many different food sources. The best sources are meat, poultry and fish, while vegetables contain little of this nutrient. The average non-vegetarian person eats 20 mg to 200 mg per day for a 70 kg person, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, even vegetarians are able to get enough L-carnitine because the body can make it from other amino acids and the kidneys do not excrete it at a high rate. As long as vegetarians meet their protein requirements from other sources, they should meet their L-carnitine needs.
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