Carnitine
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L-Carnitine is a non essential amino acid that the body can manufacture from essential amino acids L-lysine and methionine. The conversion to carnitine requires niacin (vitamin B3), vitamins B6 and vitamin C, and iron. It is found in nearly all cells of the body but chiefly in the liver and kidney. Carnitine is essential for the transportation of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membranes in the mitochondria, where they are metabolized by beta-oxidation to produce biological energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
L-Carnitine is also required to remove short to medium chain fatty acids from the mitochondria. This removal optimizes energy production by maintaining coenzyme A at optimal levels for normal metabolism and energy production.
Deficiencies of carnitine may result from deficiencies in lysine, methionine, vitamins B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Iron, defective gastrointestinal function, or increased requirement because of high-fat diet, metabolic stress or disease. The consequences of carnitine deficiency are impaired lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in skeletal muscles, heart and liver. Patients usually exhibit muscle weakness and fatigue.
Normal heart function depends on adequate concentrations of carnitine. While the normal heart stores more carnitine than required, if the heart does not have a good oxygen supply, carnitine levels quickly decrease. Lack of oxygen leads to decreased energy production and increased risk for angina and heart disease. Carnitine benefits blood lipids by lowering triglycerides and total cholesterol, while increasing HDL. L-acetyl carnitine (LAC) may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, senile depression and age related memory loss.
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> back to About Micronutrients
L-Carnitine is a non essential amino acid that the body can manufacture from essential amino acids L-lysine and methionine. The conversion to carnitine requires niacin (vitamin B3), vitamins B6 and vitamin C, and iron. It is found in nearly all cells of the body but chiefly in the liver and kidney. Carnitine is essential for the transportation of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membranes in the mitochondria, where they are metabolized by beta-oxidation to produce biological energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
L-Carnitine is also required to remove short to medium chain fatty acids from the mitochondria. This removal optimizes energy production by maintaining coenzyme A at optimal levels for normal metabolism and energy production.
Deficiencies of carnitine may result from deficiencies in lysine, methionine, vitamins B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, Iron, defective gastrointestinal function, or increased requirement because of high-fat diet, metabolic stress or disease. The consequences of carnitine deficiency are impaired lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in skeletal muscles, heart and liver. Patients usually exhibit muscle weakness and fatigue.
Normal heart function depends on adequate concentrations of carnitine. While the normal heart stores more carnitine than required, if the heart does not have a good oxygen supply, carnitine levels quickly decrease. Lack of oxygen leads to decreased energy production and increased risk for angina and heart disease. Carnitine benefits blood lipids by lowering triglycerides and total cholesterol, while increasing HDL. L-acetyl carnitine (LAC) may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, senile depression and age related memory loss.
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