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Viacore Nutrition is now carrying Carnitine for supplements.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Carnitine is an amino acid that is produced naturally in the body, and whose primary role is to help convert fat into energy. It is sold in form of L-carnitine supplements. Many research studies have linked carnitine with the treatment or prevention of disorders such as heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, weight loss, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, male infertility, anorexia, Lyme disease, among others. Some of the diseases that this supplement is thought to either treat or prevent are discussed further below.

Heart Health

A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that carnitine helps reduce oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. This prevents damage to critical arteries. Carnitine also contributes to a healthy heart by preventing damages caused by heart attacks, as detailed in two Italian studies.

Kidney Disease

Since kidneys manufacture carnitine, it’s likely that patients suffering from kidney disease will have insufficient levels of the amino acid. Many studies suggest that the oral or intravenous administration of carnitine to kidney disease patients can help boost the red blood cells count during hemodialysis.

In fact, WebMD reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved the supplement’s use in the prevention and treatment of L-carnitine deficiency for serious kidney disease patients who are on hemodialysis. Patients should, however, take the supplement only under strict medical supervision.

Cancer

According to a study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences in 2004, fatigue is one of the most common outcomes of different cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It can also result from the poor nutrition statuses suffered by many cancer patients. The study found that cancer patients can also suffer from carnitine deficiency.

A 2002 study on the use of levocarnitine supplementation in treating chemo-induced fatigue in non-anaemic cancer patients, which was published in the British Journal of Cancer, showed that the supplement was capable of helping reduce this type of fatigue. The subjects of the trial were put under a week-long dosage (4grams/day) of the supplement.

In another trial, patients with terminal cancer were supplemented with carnitine doses ranging from 250 milligrams to 3 grams per day, and the outcome was positive: enhanced quality of sleep, improved mood, and less fatigue. Both trials suggest that the treatment is more effective in patients who are carnitine-deficient.

Healthy Aging

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements notes that a deterioration in mitochondrial function is a likely contributor to the aging process. Carnitine is linked to this process because as people age, its concentration in body tissues also lowers thereby weakening the mitochondrial membrane.

In a reasearch conducted on aged rats and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2002, administration of high doses of acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid on the animals slowed down their mitochondrial decay. They rats also recorded better performance in memory-intensive tasks.

Unfortunately, equivalent studies focusing on human beings are yet to be conducted and there’s therefore no concrete evidence suggesting the same outcomes would be achieved in humans.

Hyperthyroidism

Some research studies suggest that L-carnitine is capable of preventing symptoms associated with an overactive thyroid: tremors, nervousness, insomnia, and heart palpitations. The University of Maryland Medical Center mentions a small study whose subjects showed significant improvements in these symptoms after taking the supplement.

Nonetheless, it will take larger and more elaborate clinical tries to either prove or disapprove the claim of carnitine’s positive impact on hyperthyroidism. Some scientists actually express concerns that carnitine can work against the thyroid hormone by blocking its action, and for people with low thyroid levels, such an outcome can cause serious harm. Patients with hyperthyroidism should not take carnitine without a doctor’s direction.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Loss

Different studies have produced mixed outcomes on the question of whether carnitine can help in treating Alzheimer’s disease. In one such study published in the International Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2003, the findings showed that acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation can help older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment to reduce memory deterioration and boost mental function.

Some other bigger and better-designed studies have disapproved the earlier findings and as such, people who opt to take carnitine for Alzheimer’s disease should only do so under physician supervision.

Diabetes

Another Italian study showed that carnitine has the potential to improve insulins sensitivity in diabetic persons. Other studies suggest that the L-carnitine supplements can ease complications resulting from diabetes and blood sugar.

Weight Loss

Despite existence of studies purporting that carnitine serves as a weight loss supplement, further research has found these claims inconclusive. A study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism did not provide any evidence to suggest that the supplement helps women to lose weight.

Are you looking for a carnitine supplement or powder?

Viacore Nutrition is now carrying carnitine. Add it to your next supplement today. Contact us today to help you formulate your next custom formulated supplement or if your seeking to private label visit Nucare.com

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