Is L-Carnitine A Super SUPP?

- Pedro van Gaalen

The stimulants found in thermogenic fat burners don’t appeal to everyone who’s working to achieve a leaner look. Even those who choose to include these effective products in their supplement regimens can’t use them indefinitely.

A natural alternative that can offer significant support, both from a fat loss and a health perspective, without the risk or worry of adverse effects is an amino acid called L-carnitine.

Burn it

IT'S A NATURAL FAT BURNER

Your body already naturally produces L-carnitine in the liver and kidneys. Its main role is to transport fatty acids into muscle cells where they can be metabolised for energy within structures called mitochondria – the so-called metabolic powerhouses of our cells.

The theory suggests that the amount of fat burned during exercise is directly related to our muscle L-carnitine levels and that a well-stocked reserve allows us to efficiently convert stored fat into expendable energy more effectively and efficiently.

In other words, an adequate supply of L-carnitine should increase your body’s use of stored fat as an energy source, which can assist with weight loss and improve body composition.

While more research is needed, there is some clinical evidence that supports this claim.

As an example, in a three-month clinical trial, 18 test subjects were given 2g of L-carnitine per day or a placebo, along with a training program and a diet plan. The results showed that the L-carnitine group lost an average of 5.1kg, while the placebo group lost an average of 0.518kg.