Carnitine plays a key role in fat metabolism and energy production and concentrates in the body in skeletal muscle, and the heart, liver, and kidneys. Carnitine improves endurance and athletic performance and promotes healthy body composition by aiding the conversion of fat into energy. On a cellular level carnitine is critical for metabolic processes that produce energy, such as converting ketones and branched-chain amino acids into energy. Carnitine is also a potent antioxidant.
The levels of carnitine and its derivatives in the body are critical for normal biological functioning. A deficiency ofcarnitine is associated with impaired growth and development in infants, neuromuscular disorders, muscle fatigue, and lethargy, and is common in chronic illness including congestive heart failure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
Carnitine enhances cognition, lessens fatigue, and boosts physical and mental energy. By increasing oxygen consumption at the cellular level and decreasing lactic acid production, carnitine may improve athletic performance and muscle recovery.
Several conditions may benefit from carnitine supplementation, including high lipid levels, liver and kidney disease, male infertility, cardiovascular disease, ischemia, peripheral vascular disease, chronic fatigue, and fatigue associated with conditions such as chronic illness.
