L-Carnitine Description

L-Carnitine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in your body. You can buy L-Carnitine over the counter if you have low levels of L-Carnitine caused by taking certain medications or from a genetic disorder. Your doctor may recommend taking L-Carnitine (Levocarnitine) if you are undergoing hemodialysis for kidney disease or you are a strict vegetarian as well.

How L-Carnitine Helps Boost Your Low Energy Levels

L-Carnitine helps to get fatty acids into your mitochondria where they are burned for energy. Mitochondria are found inside almost every cell in your body and their purpose is to utilize the food and energy that enter the cells to make energy. These tiny structures supply nearly all of the energy your body requires for your daily life and growth. If your L-Carnitine levels are low, you will have less energy. Some people use L-Carnitine when they perform strenuous exercises to help them tolerate the strain or along with standard treatment to help reduce the pain of exercise-induced angina.

Other Uses for L-Carnitine

For individuals that experience intermittent leg cramps, called claudication, that may occur when they exercise, reduced L-Carnitine levels could be the cause. L-Carnitine also acts as an antioxidant that can help neutralize free radicals before they can damage cells and interfere with DNA. Antioxidants can also be obtained from eating the right kind of food that contains vitamin A, C, and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and flavonoids. As long as you eat a balanced diet, there should be no need to take supplements to increase antioxidants. More is not always better, and our bodies need some free radicals to kill cancer cells and bacteria.

Before You Take L-Carnitine

It is not known whether L-Carnitine can harm an unborn baby or if it passes into breast milk so tell your doctor if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing an infant before you start taking it. Go over your medical history with your doctor and list all current Rx medicine and OTC drugs you are taking, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements to make certain L-Carnitine is right for your situation.

Precautions for L-Carnitine

Check your blood pressure regularly while taking L-Carnitine as it could cause it to increase. Do not stop, start, or alter the dosage of L-Carnitine, or any of your meds without consulting with your doctor first to be certain there are no safety issues or risk of adverse side effects from adding this amino acid to your daily medication schedule.

Possible Side Effects of L-Carnitine

• Stomach upset
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Urine, sweat, and breath have fishy odor

Drugs Similar to L-Carnitine

• Carnitor
• Carnitor injection
• L-Carnitine solution