L-carnitine: Proven Benefits, Risks, and More (2024)

L-carnitine is derived from amino acids and can be found in animal products. Some people take L-carnitine supplements to help with their overall health.L-carnitine is a naturally occurring substance in the body and can be found in animal products. Most people produce enough L-carnitine in their bodies, even if they are vegan and do not eat animal products.

This article covers what L-carnitine is and some of its benefits.

L-carnitine is derived from an amino acid and is found in almost all the cells in the body. The word comes from the Latin, carnus, or flesh, being that the L-carnitine compound is isolated from meat. L-carnitine plays a role in energy production and is concentrated in skeletal and cardiac muscles.

For most people, the body naturally produces enough L-carnitine to meet their needs. But for some individuals, such as preterm infants or those with genetic or medical conditions, the body can’t make enough L-carnitine. For these individuals, L-carnitine is considered an essential nutrient.

L-carnitine is mostly found in animal products, such as meat, fish, poultry, and dairy. The redder the meat is, the higher it is in L-carnitine. For instance, 4 ounces of cooked beef steak contains 56–162 milligrams Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source of L-carnitine. In dairy products, L-carnitine is primarily found in the whey portion.

People may supplement with L-carnitine for many reasons, such as athletic performance, fat burning, aging, cardiovascular protection, cancer, and infertility. However, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source has approved the supplementation of L-carnitine only for people with a true deficiency.

Some people receiving certain treatment, such as hemodialysis, may also be deficient in L-carnitine.

Some people take L-carnitine to improve athletic performance. However, there is very limited Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source research to show that supplementation with L-carnitine improves athletic performance in healthy individuals.

In people without a fatty acid oxidation defect, the benefits of L-carnitine are likely Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source to be minimal.

L-carnitine is frequently marketed as a weight loss supplement, but the research is inconclusive. Some research suggests Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source that oral L-carnitine might reduce fat mass, especially Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source in people with overweight or obesity.

Learn how to talk with your doctor about your weight.

L-carnitine is thought to play a role in the aging process because its concentration in bodily tissues decreases with age, causing a decline in mitochondrial function.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source reported older research Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source done in rats has found that high doses of L-carnitine may reduce mitochondrial decay and improve mental function.

Some research, such as this 2020 study, has investigated the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on people with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers noted some positive effects of the supplement on blood sugar, but it was not always statistically significant. There were other effects on reducing some symptoms of type 2 diabetes, including fatigue and insomnia, after 6 months of treatment.

The researchers concluded that much more research is needed. Still, L-carnitine could one day be a beneficial supplement in people with type 2 diabetes alongside their recommended treatment and the Mediterranean diet.

Learn about commonly prescribed drugs for type 2 diabetes.

Some research Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source has found that L-carnitine supplementation and standard pharmacological treatment after a heart attack reduce mortality and subsequent occurrences of chest pain. However, not all studies have found this.

Some other research Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source has found that taking L-carnitine can help reduce muscle cramping in individuals with peripheral arterial disease. This cramping is called claudication and results from an inadequate supply of oxygen-rich blood to the legs.

Some research has found that L-carnitine can help Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source with the fatigue associated with cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. It may also help improve mood and quality of sleep.

Learn more about what to expect with radiation therapy.

L-carnitine may be of value for treating male infertility because carnitine content in seminal fluid is directly related to sperm count and motility. Several studies Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source suggest that L-carnitine may improve sperm quality and reduce cell death in the testes.

However, more research is needed to determine the overall effects of L-carnitine on male fertility.

High doses of L-carnitine can cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress.

Other side effects include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• rash
• fishy body odor

Generally, the side effects of taking L-carnitine are mild.

People who decide to take L-carnitine should do so under the supervision of their doctor in case there are interactions with other medications or supplements.

Because more research is needed on the benefits of L-carnitine, people should be aware that they may not always see desired effects from L-carnitine supplementation.

Always talk with your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you have an underlying condition. Your doctor will be able to tell you more about its safety in your circ*mstances and will also be able to recommend other measures to help you achieve your aims.

L-carnitine can interact with other medications. People taking the following medications should be aware of the following possible interactions with L-carnitine:

• pivalate-conjugated antibiotics, such as pivampicillin, used to prevent urinary tract infections
• some anticonvulsants, including:
  • valproic acid
  • phenobarbital
  • phenytoin
  • carbamazepine

According to the 2020–2025Dietary Guidelines for Americans Trusted Source Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA) Governmental authority Go to source, most people can and should meet their required daily amount of L-carnitine through their food intake rather than supplements.

Exceptions to this are people who have a medical reason to take a supplement, such as people who are pregnant or have a specific medical condition.

For individuals who need to take L-carnitine supplements, their doctor will recommend the appropriate dosage for them. However, they should never exceed Trusted Source National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Governmental authority Go to source 3 g per day, as this can cause side effects.

L-carnitine is derived from amino acids and plays a role in energy production. Most people naturally produce enough L-carnitine to meet their body’s needs.

L-carnitine is found in animal products, with the highest concentrations found in red meat. Although many people take L-carnitine supplements, more research is needed on its benefits.

You should talk with your doctor before taking L-carnitine supplements, especially if you have certain medical conditions or take prescription medications.