L-Carnitine Review

What You Should Know

L-Carnitine was discovered in 1905 and is biosynthesized by the amino acids Lysine and Methionine. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria. In animals it is primarily biosynthesized in the liver and the kidney. It is said to increase energy in the body and said by some to be able to help with weight loss. L-Carnitine is sold as a stand alone supplement and is also an ingredient in a number of weight loss products on the market.

Ingredients

L-Carnitine is biosynthesized by the amino acids Lysine and Methionine.

Product Features

L- Carnitine can be purchased as a stand alone supplement directly from on line stores or in person from drug stores. It is also found as an ingredient in a number of weight loss supplements. It is found in red meat and in dairy products. Some clinical tests have shown that it can have a stabilizing effect on diabetes. This means that if you have gained weight as a result of diabetes and L- Carnitine helps to stabilize your diabetes a pleasant after effect of this may be some weight loss. However anyone with diabetes should never take a stand alone dietary supplement or a weight loss supplement without first seeking the advice of their family physician or diabetes health care professional.

Some athletes take L-Carnitine supplements due to its supposed ability to help increase the energy in the body. However the claims of those manufactures that include L- Carnitine in their weight loss products are more tenuous. Although a couple of very small scale clinical tests have shown than L-Carnitine can lead to weight loss, larger controlled clinical tests are needed to establish these claims as reliable. There is certainly no evidence that L- Carnitine as an ingredient is any more effective than other popular ingredients in weight loss products such as Green Tea Extract.

Advantages

• L-Carnitine is available as a stand lone supplement or as an ingredient in weight loss products.
• L-Carnitine supplements can be purchased directly on line.
• L- Carnitine is said to be rich in antioxidants.

Disadvantages

• There is no evidence that L- Carnitine as an ingredient in weight loss supplements is more effective than other ingredients.
• There has not been enough large scale clinical trials undertaken to back up the claims made for L-Carnitine by some manufacturers of weight loss products.
• L-Carnitine is found in red meat and dairy products, you do not necessarily need to buy supplements.
• There is no evidence that L-Carnitine as a stand alone supplement procures superior results in achieving weight loss than other stand alone supplements available for sale.

Conclusion

There simply is not enough reliable evidence available to back up the claims made by some weight loss manufacturers that L-Carnitine helps procure weight loss. We cannot therefore recommend it over and above other weight loss ingredients available.