Carnitine - L Carnitine, Facts, Effects, Benefits to Anti-Aging
Carnitine, also called l carnitine or acetyl l carnitine, is derived from amino acids to convert fatty acids into energy in the mitochondria, which is essential for good metabolism.
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As we age, metabolism slows, and the body produces less and less energy. In part, this is because the body may lose its ability to synthesize carnitine on its own, in which case it needs to be supplemented.
Primary Role For Carnitine (L Carnitine) In Your Body
Carnitine has many purposes in the body, and several clinical studies have shown it has effects on many parts of the body. It nourishes and protects the heart, brain, and liver, as well as the skeletal muscles. It also helps produce acetylcholine in the brain, which helps to decrease the heart rate.
Recently, there has been much attention on carnitine as an anti-aging supplement, especially when used in conjunction with alpha lipoic acid. A study on laboratory rats done at UC Berkeley showed that older rats that were given supplemental acetyl l carnitine and alpha lipoic acid had increased energy, mental functions, and improved memory.
Carnitine Research
Although human beings are much different from rats, there is a similar decrease in mitochondrial function and an increase in mitochondrial oxidation in both, which many believe are tremendous factors in aging. This experiment is so exciting because it demonstrated that doses of carnitine and alpha lipoic acid could reverse the effects of aging in rats, and may do the same for humans.
These results are promising, but human experiments have not yet been performed. However, carnitine has been shown to help with heart conditions, including myocardial infarction, angina, and helps victims recovering from heart failure. Supplemental l carnitine has also been shown to help with renal, or kidney, function.
Carnitine is at its highest concentrations in meat, but it can be synthesized from vegetables, too. A three-ounce beefsteak has about 80 mg of carnitine, while six spears of asparagus have about 0.2 mg. Most omnivores get about 20 to 200 mg per day, while most vegetarians get about one to 20 mg per day. L-carnitine is digested most easily from food, with about 60%-75% absorption, compared to 15%-20% absorption from supplements. For younger people, supplementation is usually unnecessary, unless there is a hereditary or secondary deficiency.
However, as we age and our metabolism slows, it may become necessary to use a supplement, especially in conjunction with alpha lipoic acid, which seems to compliment the effects of carnitine.
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