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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-07-08 Origin: Site
L-carnitine, or carnitine for short, is an amino acid that exists widely in human tissues and can be produced on its own. It is an important factor in the energy production process, responsible for sending fatty acids into the granulosa in order to burn them smoothly and produce energy, and is also necessary for metabolizing carbohydrates.
Carnitine is mainly formed by lysine and methionine, while ascorbic acid, ferrous iron, vitamin B6 and nicotinic acid are also the main cofactors of the synthesis process.
For healthy people (including vegetarians), 75% of carnitine can be obtained from food (meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits), but in some medical conditions, the body's needs may exceed its own synthesis, so it is a conditionally important nutrient.
1. Improve non-alcoholic fatty liver
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a catch-all term with a wide range of histological manifestations, from very mild steatosis (5% or more hepatocyte infiltration) to more aggressive inflammation of liver lobules or portal veins, hepatocyte expansion, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis.
Its prevalence ranges from 20% to 30% in Western countries and 5% to 18% in Asia, and the prevalence of NAFLD is increasing worldwide due to dietary refinement and sedentary lifestyles.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (including 5 randomized controlled trials with 334 patients with NAFLD) showed that carnitine supplementation (study duration ranging from 12 weeks to 24 weeks, daily dose 300 to 2000 mg) significantly reduced insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), aspartate aminotransferase (AST ), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and triglyceride (TG) levels.
The underlying mechanism may be related to the fact that carnitine alters the expression of genes related to the insulin signaling pathway, decreases the expression of glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes, and regulates the mitochondrial acyl-CoA/CoA ratio and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity.
2. Reduce inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein)
C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein/CRP) is an acute-phase protein that reflects a measure of the acute-phase response. Plasma CRP levels in most healthy subjects are typically 1 mg/L, with normal values defined as <10 mg/L. Plasma levels increase within 4 to 6 hours of initial tissue injury and continue to increase hundreds of times within 24 to 48 hours.
The "acute phase" refers to local and systemic events that accompany the local inflammatory response, including vasodilation, platelet aggregation, neutrophil chemotaxis, and release of lysosomal enzymes.
CRP levels tend to be higher in smokers, hypertensive, overweight and inactive individuals, and lower in lean, long, athletic individuals.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (Meta-Analysis, including 6 randomized controlled trials with 1087 participants) indicated that oral carnitine significantly reduced C-reactive protein concentrations compared to controls.
3. Help to lose weight
Weight loss is an important issue for most people in modern times. In addition to increasing self-confidence, it is more important to get healthy.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (9 studies with 911 participants) showed that L-carnitine use had a significant effect on weight loss and lower body mass index (especially in subjects with chronic conditions such as diabetes or obesity) compared to the control group.
4. Improve diabetes
Due to the influence of the aging population and obesity rate, diabetes has become the fastest growing disease. According to the U.S. population survey, about 35% of people over the age of 20 are pre-diabetic, and up to 50% after the age of 65. If left untreated, 37% of patients will develop diabetes within 4 years.
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (including 4 studies with 284 patients with type 2 diabetes) showed that oral L-carnitine has improved fasting blood glucose and lowered blood lipids (including: total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B100 and AI).
The underlying mechanism is related to the enhancement of mitochondrial oxidation of long-chain acetyl coenzyme A, induction of glycolytic enzymes, and regulation of insulin-related gene expression.
Another systematic literature review and meta-analysis (5 studies with 631 patients with type 2 diabetes) showed that L-carnitine helped to improve insulin resistance, and the improvement increased with the duration of treatment.
5. Prevent cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in humans, far surpassing malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis. In the United States, the costs associated with treating cardiovascular disease account for approximately 17% of total health care expenditures, with costs increasing by a factor of 1 every 10 years.
A meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled studies of 3629 subjects with previous acute myocardial infarction showed that carnitine use helped reduce all-cause mortality by 27%, ventricular arrhythmias by 65%, and angina by 40%.
6. Benefit male infertility
Approximately 4.85 million couples of reproductive age worldwide have infertility problems, accounting for about 15% of all couples, with male factors accounting for about 50%.
The most common form of male infertility is idiopathic infertility, which refers to sperm pattern abnormalities of unknown origin, followed by varicocele.
A meta-analysis (7 studies with 751 patients with idiopathic oligospermia) showed that carnitine treatment increased the chance of natural conception and improved relevant sperm parameters (e.g., sperm motility, advancing sperm count, sperm concentration, sperm morphological abnormalities) compared to the control group.
1. According to the currently available literature, carnitine supplements are safe when used as directed and no serious side effects have occurred, but adverse effects have been reported including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, heartburn, and diarrhea.
2. Daily doses greater than 3,000 mg may result in a fishy odor in the breath, urine and sweat.
3. The use of the acetyl-L-carnitine form may cause agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease and increase the frequency of seizures in patients with epilepsy.
