L-Carnitine

Carnitine, derived from an amino acid, is found in nearly all cells of the body and plays a critical role in energy production. The word Carnitine itself is simply the generic term for a number of compounds that include L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine.

Carnitine acts like the body’s “fuel truck” as 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 to prevent their accumulation. Given these important functions, carnitine is concentrated in tissues like skeletal and cardiac muscle that utilize fatty acids as a dietary fuel.

Because Carnitine is so key to energy production, it has been studied extensively. The results? Carnitine has been found to be a well-tolerated and generally safe therapeutic agent.