Is L Carnitine Bad For People?

Carnitine is a nutrient that your body uses to turn fat into energy, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Your liver and kidneys produce carnitine and your body stores it in your skeletal muscles and heart. L-carnitine is a kind of carnitine supplement that is generally considered safe. However, L-carnitine use has been associated with diarrhea and skin rashes. L-carnitine use also has purported benefits, such as alleviating heart conditions and neuropathy.

Dose

The recommended daily doses for L-carnitine vary according to the health condition. The general dose for adults is between 1 g and 3 g per day, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. The dose used to treat angina and heart failure is between 1.5 g and 2 g per day. When used to treat diabetic neuropathy, L-carnitine doses are about 3 g per day. Peripheral vascular disease is usually treated with between 2 g to 4 g of L-carnitine daily. L-carnitine is generally not recommended for children unless prescribed by a doctor.

L-carnitine and LDL Cholesterol

A study published in a 2009 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" examined the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on oxidized low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, in diabetics. The study used 81 people who had type 2 diabetes and lasted about three months. The people were divided into two groups, and the results showed that those treated with L-carnitine displayed reduced oxidized LDL levels. Triglyceride levels decreased as well. This suggests that L-carnitine can manage cholesterol levels. However, more research is needed to verify this assertion.

L-carnitine and Protein and Fat Oxidation

A 1989 issue of "Clinical Nutrition" published a study that examined the effects of L-carnitine supplements on protein and fat oxidation in people who are critically ill. The study involved a critically ill and severely malnourished male who was given total parenteral nutrition for more than 38 days. Every 11 days during the TPN period, he was given a four-hour infusion of 100 mg of L-carnitine. Afterward, he received 15 mg per kilogram each day of L-carnitine supplements for about 15 days. He was given carnitine-free nutrition for 60 days after the 15 days. The excessive levels of L-carnitine caused negative effects on the man's protein metabolism and impaired his ability to oxidize fat. Studies involving larger groups of people are necessary to better assess the possible adverse reactions.

L-carnitine Neonatal Treatment

In 2011, "Pediatric Research" published a study that examined the long-term effects of long-term neonatal L-carnitine treatment. The study used rats as test subjects. They showed no negative effects on growth and kidney function after 50 weeks. However, mixing L-carnitine with dexamethasone caused a slight reduction in kidney function. This suggests that L-carnitine levels should be monitored when used to treat newborns. However, more research is necessary to ascertain the veracity of this purported benefit.