L-Carnitine

About L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is not a peptide but a small quaternary ammonium compound synthesised in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids lysine and methionine, and obtained in the diet mainly from red meat. It is supplied here as a sterile pre-mixed solution at 600 mg/mL rather than as a lyophilized powder.

Its biological role is well established: carnitine is the carrier that moves long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane so they can be oxidised for energy. It is widely used in research on fatty-acid metabolism, mitochondrial function, exercise recovery and carnitine-deficiency states.

Mechanism

Long-chain fatty acids cannot cross the inner mitochondrial membrane on their own. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I attaches them to carnitine to form acylcarnitines, a translocase shuttles these into the matrix, and CPT II releases the fatty acid for β-oxidation. Carnitine also buffers the acyl-CoA/CoA ratio, which keeps other mitochondrial pathways running under high metabolic load.

Areas of research

1. Required cofactor for mitochondrial fatty-acid transport (carnitine shuttle)
2. Studied for effects on exercise recovery and substrate utilisation
3. Investigated in models of metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction
4. Supplied in solution; store refrigerated and protect from light

References

1. Longo N, Frigeni M, Pasquali M. Carnitine transport and fatty acid oxidation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016;1863(10):2422-2435. PubMed
2. Fielding R, Riede L, Lugo JP, Bellamine A. L-carnitine supplementation in recovery after exercise. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):349. PubMed

Research use only. Information on this page is provided for educational and research purposes and summarises published literature, mostly from cell and animal studies; it is not a claim of efficacy or safety. Products are not intended for human or veterinary use, or for any diagnostic or therapeutic purpose.