What Is L-Carnitine? | L-Carnitine Benefits, Dosage & When to Take?

L-carnitine is another supplement that sounds confusing, so we’re here to break apart the fact from the fiction. So, what exactly is this interesting supplement?

It’s been used by athletes all around the world for its fat-burning capabilities, since it could potentially optimize how your body uses fat as a fuel source, leading to greater exercise performance.3 Many people use L-carnitine for weight loss and fat burning purposes, and when taken correctly, could be a great addition to your training regime. Let’s find out more.

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What is L-carnitine?

It’s a non-essential amino-acid-like compound, meaning it’s produced in the body naturally.

You can get a certain amount of L-carnitine from your diet, as it’s found in foods such as red meat — typically the redder the meat, the better. Plant sources such as avocado and soybean contain small amounts too.

Supplements should be consumed alongside a healthy diet, but are often recommended to anyone who struggles to get enough of a certain nutrient in their diet.5

What does L-carnitine do?

L-carnitine is responsible for transporting long-chain fatty acids to your cells’ mitochondria, where energy is then produced as the fat is oxidized and used for fuel. More than 95% of the body’s L-carnitine stores are found in skeletal muscle (muscle which is connected to your skeleton), along with trace amounts in the liver and blood.6

Summary: L-Carnitine helps your body produce energy by transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria of muscle cells.