Carnitine

Carnitine is a nutrient that helps the body turn fat into energy. It is biosynthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine. It is produced by the body in the liver and kidneys and stored in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain, and sperm. In living cells, it is required for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into the mitochondria during the breakdown of lipids (or fats) for the generation of metabolic energy.

Carnitine has been proposed as a treatment for many conditions. Some of the conditions carnitine may help treat are serious, and in those cases the supplement should be taken under the supervision of your doctor, as an adjunct therapy to conventional medicine. Although carnitine has been marketed as a weight-loss supplement, there is no scientific evidence to date to show that it improves weight loss. Regular supplements of carnitine, however, contribute to energy metabolism and improved neurotransmitter function in the brain in elderly.

The highest concentrations of carnitine are found in red meat and dairy products. Other natural sources of carnitine include nuts and seeds (e.g., pumpkin, sunflower, sesame), legumes or pulses (beans, peas, lentils, peanuts), vegetables (asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, brussels sprouts, collard greens, garlic, mustard greens, okra, parsley, kale), fruits (apricots, bananas) and cereals (buckwheat, corn, millet, oatmeal, rice bran, rye, whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat germ).