Carnitine, a conditionally essential nutrient with a molecular weight akin to amino acids, is synthesized in our liver or kidneys and is abundant in food, particularly in milk and meat.
Carnitine's main function within the body is to transport fatty acids, especially long-chain fatty acids, to the inner membrane of mitochondria to facilitate β-oxidation of the fatty acids.
Fatty acids within cells, derived from food or fat tissue, must be converted to CoA (Coenzyme A) by-products, the substrates for β-oxidation, to produce energy. Since the cell membrane cannot pass these by-products through, carnitine assists in their transport across the mitochondrial membrane.
Therefore, when fatty acids are absorbed into mitochondria to be converted into energy, they bind with L-carnitine, which then carries the fatty acids into the mitochondria. This process allows the body to use accumulated fats as an energy source.
REF: Pekala, J., Patkowska-Sokola, B., Bodkowski, R., Jamroz, D., Nowakowski, P., Lochynski, S., & Librowski, T. (2011). L-carnitine-metabolic functions and meaning in humans life. Current drug metabolism, 12(7),667-678.
Now, let's review experimental research on the fat-burning effects of L-carnitine.
- Methods
Over an average duration of 25 months, 28 kidney dialysis patients (16 men and 12 women) were administered L-carnitine (5mg/kg body weight) three times a week following hemodialysis.
Observations were made before administration, and at 3 and 6 months post-administration.
- Results
After L-carnitine administration in hemodialysis patients, improvements in triglyceride levels were observed.
REF: Elisaf, M., Bairaktari, E., Katopodis, K., Pappas, M., Sferopoulos, G., Tzallas, C., Tsolas, O., & Siamopoulos, K. C. (1998). Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid parameters in hemodialysis patients.American journal of nephrology, 18(5),416-421.
Thus, carnitine is a key component that enables fats to be efficiently broken down in mitochondria within our body. A deficiency in carnitine can lead to issues with fatty acid breakdown, potentially causing obesity.
Moreover, no matter how well mitochondria function, without carnitine at the entry point to mitochondria, fats will not be broken down and instead will be stored.
In essence, carnitine is necessary to create the structure that allows for the formation of ATP.
