Information Carnitine

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Carnitine required for

Unlike a true amino acid, it is not used in protein synthesis nor as

neurotransmitter, but is used for long-chain fatty acid transport and

is required for entry of these long-chain fatty acids into the

mitochondria of the cell, as well as for the removal of short-chain

organic acids from the mitochondria, which frees the intra-

mitochondrial coenzyme.

It is therefore important for the energy supply within the cell, as

well as muscles, assists in preventing fatty build-up in areas such

as the heart, liver, and skeletal muscles.

It may also reduce the risk of poor fat metabolism in diabetes,

alcohol-induced fatty liver as well as the risk of heart problems.

Carnitine has also been shown to improve the antioxidant effect of

vitamin C as well as E.

Deficiency of carnitine

Primarily, carnitine deficiency occurs because of a genetic defect

preventing carnitine transport and a deficiency may result in

confusion, heart pain, muscular weakness as well as obesity.

Dosage

Dosages listed is the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), but be aware

that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off

serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic

use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably,

but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.

Since carnitine can be manufactured in the body, supplementation of

carnitine is not essential.

Most infant formulas that do not contain carnitine and could be

supplemented with carnitine to the levels found in human milk, 11.3

mg/L (70 mmol/L) – but consult your medical professional regarding

this matter.

Men normally require more carnitine than women, because of heavier

body mass.

Toxicity and symptoms of high intake

None known but supplements in excess of 3,000 mg (19 mmol) of

carnitine per day may cause diarrhea and/or " fish odor " syndrome.

When more may be required

Because of more muscle mass, men normally require more carnitine.

Other interesting points

Carnitine may have functions in cellular metabolism such as plasma

membrane fatty acid remodeling, gene regulation and modulation of

cytokine concentrations in experimental sepsis and cancer cachexia.

Esters of carnitine (acetyl- and propionylcarnitine) may have

pharmacological value, by virtue of their antioxidant properties

and/or ability to deliver readily oxidizable carbon units to

mitochondria, in chronic disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and

ischemia-induced myocardial dysfunction in angina pectoris.

The long-term administration of acetyl-L-carnitine to aged rats

restores a synaptic pattern comparable to that of young rats. With

the exception of the tocopherols all the antioxidants had lower

concentrations in the Substantia nigra, which showed the most severe

neuronal depletion with age. Acetyl-L-carnitine is being investigated

as a determinant of neuronal longevity.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), is regarded with interest because of its

capacity to counteract several physiological and pathological

modifications typical of brain aging processes. In particular, it has

been demonstrated that ALCAR can counteract the age-dependent

reduction of several receptors in the central nervous system of

rodents, such as the NMDA receptor system, the Nerve Growth Factor

(NGF) receptors, those of glucocorticoids, neurotransmitters and

others, thereby enhancing the efficiency of synaptic transmission,

which is considerably slowed down by aging and appears to reverse age-

associated deficits in cellular function, in part by increasing

cellular ATP production.

Food sources

Carnitine is found in good amounts in red meat, while fish, chicken

and milk are also high in carnitine, while vegetables and grains

contain very little of this nutrient.

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