What is L-Carnitine?
L-carnitine is an essential amino acid derivative that plays a role in most mammals’ energy production function. The body can produce carnitine from lysine and methionine in the liver, kidneys, and brain. Carnitine can also be sourced from food, particularly meat.
The word carnitine is derived from the Latin word carnus, meaning meat. The redder the meat, the higher the carnitine content.
Normal healthy adults generally do not need to obtain carnitine from food as the body’s own production is sufficient. The kidneys also store carnitine very effectively for future use. Surplus carnitine is excreted in the urine to maintain an optimum level.
L-carnitine facilitates energy production by transporting fat cells to the mitochondria, where they are converted to energy. The rate of fat burn is believed to be proportional to the intake of L-carnitine.
Because L-carnitine is seen as a fat burner, it has become a popular supplement to help with weight loss. Now that you’ve learned about L-carnitine let’s look at its uses and other helpful information!
Injectable L-Carnitine Uses
As mentioned, L-carnitine has become an important component of weight loss products or programs. Although weight management is probably the most common application of L-carnitine, it has also been indicated for several additional therapies.
Treatment of Carnitine Deficiency
Primary Carnitine Deficiency is a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 50,000 people in the US. This is where the body is unable to use convert certain fats to energy. Without carnitine, the fat cells cannot be moved to the mitochondria, so the fat cannot be processed.
It is usually diagnosed in infants or children up to four years of age. The condition leads to low carnitine levels in the muscles and can cause weakness. Left untreated, it can lead to severe heart or liver problems.
Secondary Carnitine Deficiency is where the levels of carnitine in the blood are too low. This condition has many causes, such as renal failure, liver disease, digestive disorders, or the use of certain medications. The consequences are less dire than with Primary Carnitine Deficiency, except in cases where dialysis is required.
As a Supplement to Enhance Sports Performance
Proponents of L-carnitine for performance enhancement list several benefits.:
- Reduces the time required for muscles to recover by reducing muscle metabolism
- Reduces lactic acid build-up
- Improves the storage of oxygen and improves stamina
- Improved lean muscle building
However, the results of years of studies in the application of L-carnitine as a sports supplement have yielded inconsistent results.
Treatment of Several Medical Conditions Such as:
- Angina. This is a condition that causes chest pain due to temporarily reduced blood flow to the heart. Carnitine can help reduce symptoms of angina and improve the ability of people with angina to exercise without chest pain.
- Congestive heart failure, a condition where the body retains water due to inefficient heart function. Based on several studies, Carnitine supplements may reduce your chances of developing heart failure after a heart attack. Carnitine can also improve exercise capacity if you already have heart failure.
- Male infertility resulting from reduced sperm count. Carnitine has been seen to increase sperm count as well as improve sperm movement.
- Myocarditis, swelling, or inflammation of the heart. Carnitine reduces the mortality risk by as much as 27%.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Carnitine increases ovulation and the chances of getting pregnant.
- Toxicity is caused by excessive ingestion of valproic acid. Valproic acid is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and epileptic seizures.
Although research to date suggests that L-carnitine is indicated for these conditions, there isn’t much conclusive evidence to support the claims.
L-Carnitine has also been associated with many other conditions for which there is negligible or conflicting data. These include acne, autism, arrhythmia, androgenic alopecia, tiredness and neuropathy from chemotherapy, and many more. The research data on these therapies are insufficient to lend any credence to the claims.
Dosage
Dosage for medical purposes varies according to the condition.
Injectable (intramuscular) dosing typically ranges from 200-600mg daily. Remember, this treatment should only be administered under the advice of a physician following any applicable FDA approvals.
Side Effects
In general, L-carnitine is considered safe at recommended dosage levels. Reported side effects include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
A fishy odor may develop in some users. This is called trimethylaminuria. It results from the body’s inability to break down triethylamine, which has a pungent rotten fish smell. This can usually be resolved by reducing the dosage.
There is an increased risk of cardiovascular issues such as atherosclerosis with prolonged use of l-carnitine.
L-carnitine is known to interact with thyroid medication, reducing its efficacy. It increases the efficacy of Warfarin and Acenocoumarol, thereby raising the risk of excessive bleeding or bruising.
No safety data is available for the use of L-carnitine by pregnant or breastfeeding women or by children.
How to Buy L-Carnitine Injections
Injectable L-carnitine must be purchased through a licensed physician who has approved the medication. At Evolve Telemedicine, we provide our patients with customized treatment plans, which can include L-carnitine injections. You will find our L-Carnitine Injectable on our website, which can be purchased once you’ve consulted with our physician. If you are a new patient, get started by scheduling a free consultation with our expert care team, who will help you through the process. Our streamlined process makes it easy to achieve better health.
Are you looking for L-carnitine workout supplements instead? L-carnitine supplements for weight loss and performance enhancement are available over-the-counter. They can be purchased online or at various outlets such as gyms, health shops, and pharmacies. These products are unregulated, and no clinical tests have been carried out.
We hope that you have found this information to be helpful. If you have any questions, contact the experts at Evolve to get quick answers!
Keith Starwalt, DNP
Dr. Keith Starwalt (DNP) is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Eastern Illinois University, Master of Science in Nursing at Rush University College of Nursing and attended Rush University again for his Doctor of Nursing Practice. Dr. Starwalt has over 8 years of acute care inpatient clinical experience at Rush University Medical Center. He is well-versed in and passionate about bioidentical hormone and peptide therapies. “There’s no one size fits all approach when it comes to peptides. That’s the beauty of our innovative and personalized treatment methods- we know that everyone’s body is different, and we treat everyone according to their individual needs” says Dr. Starwalt.
