Carnitine is involved in energy metabolism playing a critical role in energy production and mitochondrial protection. It transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria so they can be oxidized (“burned”) to produce energy. It also transports the toxic compounds generated out of this cellular organelle to prevent their accumulation. Carnitine is concentrated in tissues like skeletal and cardiac muscle that utilize fatty acids as a dietary fuel.
Health Problems Associated to Carnitine Deficiency:
- ADHD – Reduces hyperactivity & improves social behavior in people with ADHD due to its role in fatty acid metabolism. Some consider it a safe alternative to stimulant drugs.
- Anxiety – Studies how that carnitine can reduce anxiety & improve feelings of well-being.
- Autism – Transports fatty acids into cells. Low carnitine (common in autism) impairs the ability to use fatty acids for learning and social development.
- Asthma – Protects the surface of the lungs. Improves pulmonary function in asthmatics. Decreases inflammation in lung tissue.
- Depression – Increases serotonin and noradrenaline which lift mood. In trials, carnitine alleviates depression with few, if any, side effects.
- Diabetes – Reduces & even prevents pain from diabetic neuropathy. Improves insulin sensitivity by increasing glucose uptake & storage.
- Dyslipidemia – In supplementation trials, carnitine lowers triglycerides, oxidized LDL and the atherogenic Lp(a). This effect is likely due to its role in transporting fatty acids into cells so they can be used as fuel.
- Fatigue – Transports fatty acids into mitochondria. Decreases both mental and physical fatigue in clinical trials.
- Fibromyalgia – Deficiency causes muscle pain due to inefficient cellular energy metabolism (mitochondrial myopathy) which presents as fibromyalgia.
- Gastrointestinal Health – May be therapeutically beneficial in people with colitis (inflammation of colon) due to its role in fatty acid metabolism which is often impaired in GI disorders.
- Headaches – Implicated in migraine pathophysiology due to its role in mitochondrial energy metabolism.
- Hypothyroidism – Decreased tissue levels of carnitine in both hypo- and hyperthyroidism contribute to muscle fatigue.
- Hypertension – Lowers blood pressure in the same way as ACE inhibitors, a common hypertension drug which reduces angiotensin, a substance that causes arteries to constrict. Its role in fat metabolism explains this effect.
- Pain – Deficiency of this amino acid may manifest as muscle weakness, pain (myalgia) or neuropathy. Supplementation reduces several types of chronic pain.
- Sports Nutrition – Allows cells to use fatty acids as an efficient non-glycogen source of fuel. Improves muscle recovery. Offsets the rise in creatine kinase, an indicator of muscle damage.
- Testosterone – Boosts dopamine which is directly related to testosterone levels. May prevent testosterone decline after intense physical stress.
- Weight Management – Carries fatty acids into the cell so they can be burned for fuel. Helps reduce visceral adiposity (belly fat).
How to Acquire Carnitine:
- Grass-fed red beef meat
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Vegetables including artichokes, asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, garlic, mustard greens, okra, and parsley
