Best L-Carnitine
60 Veggie Caps
Ingredients per
capsule:
L-Carnitine (from L-Carnitine Fumarate)…………500
mg
Excipients: vegetabel-derived capsule, magnesium stearate,
silicon dioxide
Suggested Adult Use: Take 1 to 4 capsules
daily.
Ingredients
L-Carnitine is a
vitamin-like nutrient that is synthesized in the body, using the
amino acids lysine and methionine as precursors. Because the
body produces L-Carnitine on its own, it cannot be classified as
a vitamin, even though it has functions similar to B vitamins.
Fumarate is also a natural compound found in the body. Fumarate
serves as an intermediate in the Krebs cycle, a key cellular
energy-producing process. L-Carnitine and Fumarate both play
important roles in energy metabolism.
Best L-Carnitine
contains BIOSINT™ L-Carnitine Fumarate, which is made in Italy
by Sigma Tau Health Science. It is derived from a base of
pharmaceutical-grade L-Carnitine manufactured using an
FDA-approved process that fully complies with international
monograph standards for carnitine production. No biotechnology
or genetically modified organisms are involved. L-Carnitine
Fumarate is certified GMO free, BSE safe, pesticide free and
Kosher. It is also ISO 9002 certified and NNFA GMP certified.
L-Carnitine Fumarate is highly stable and bioavailable.
Known
as a global leader in L-Carnitine research, Sigma Tau holds
numerous patents for production of L-Carnitine, and its
L-Carnitine derivatives are used in clinical trials. Sigma Tau
Health Science has the only FDA-approved (1984) pharmaceutical
batch process system for consistent L-Carnitine quality, and has
been manufacturing L-Carnitine derivatives for 30 years.
Benefits
Helps the body burn fat for energy*
L-Carnitine
promotes energy production in cells by transporting fatty acids
into the mitochondrion. Its primary function is to transfer
long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Fatty acid molecules are activated to coenzyme A (CoA) esters in
the cytoplasm of the cell, and then esterified to L-Carnitine.
The combination of a fatty acid molecule and L-Carnitine is
called “acyl-carnitine.” Much of the body's L-Carnitine content
is stored in the form of acyl-carnitine.1
The mitochondrion
is the cell’s energy-generating furnace. Called an “organelle,”
the mitochondrion is a self-contained structure inside the cell.
Like all cellular structures, the mitochondrion is surrounded by
a membrane. This membrane is an impenetrable barrier to acyl-CoA
esters; passage across the membrane requires L-Carnitine as a
transporter. On the inside of the mitochondrial membrane, the
acyl-CoA esters are made available to be metabolized through the
process of beta oxidation. One of the key metabolic byproducts
of this process is acetyl-CoA, also called “active acetate,”
which enters the Krebs cycle (also known as the “citric acid
cycle”) to supply fuel for production of ATP, the cell’s primary
energy “currency.” L-Carnitine shuttles excess fatty acid
residues out of the mitochondrion, and in this role is essential
for preventing toxic buildup of fatty acids inside the
mitochondrion.
Evidence suggests that L-Carnitine and short
chain acyl-carnitine esters can protect the mitochondrion from
adverse effects of drugs and toxic chemicals. L-Carnitine has
been shown to protect animals form cardiotoxins and decrease
mortality rate in animals with diphtheria, due to this
cardioprotective effect.2
Helps maintain a healthy heart and
cardiovascular system*
Muscle tissue contains a high
concentration of L-Carnitine. With its constant energy needs,
heart muscle tissue is especially rich in L-Carnitine. If the
body’s ability to biosynthesize L-Carnitine is compromised,
energy production in muscle tissue is impaired, and a toxic
buildup of fatty acids can occur.3 Defective production of
L-Carnitine by the body can result from a variety of factors,
including kidney or liver malfunction, increased catabolism or
the inability of tissues to extract and retain L-Carnitine from
the blood.
Along with glucose and lactate, fatty acids are
the primary oxidation fuel for the heart. A considerable amount
of scientific data from animal experiments indicates that
L-Carnitine protects the heart under conditions of hypoxia, or
low oxygen. In addition to the oxidation of fat for energy in
the cell, L-Carnitine is involved in the metabolism of glucose.4
Evidence of L-Carnitine’s role in glucose metabolism was
uncovered in a small trial on 9 diabetic individuals. Given
intravenously, L-Carnitine improved insulin-mediated glucose
utilization and insulin sensitivity.5
Depletion of the body’s
L-Carnitine supply is linked to various abnormal states,
especially of the heart muscle. The effect of L-Carnitine on
hypoxic (oxygen-starved) isolated heart muscle tissue has been
studied.6 At high concentrations, L-Carnitine demonstrates a
clear-cut ability to potentiate the contractility of isolated
heart muscle tissue, indicating the L-Carnitine has a
strengthening effect on the heart. L-Carnitine has been shown to
improve the performance of rats subjected to fatigue
test.
Research has revealed that in animals and humans with
defective heart muscle, the amount of free L-Carnitine (not
bound to fatty acids) is reduced. Administration of L-Carnitine
to hamsters prevents damage to the heart muscle. Given to humans
with angina, L-Carnitine was found to improve exercise
tolerance. In a small study, patients with congestive heart
failure showed gains in heart function with oral consumption of
L-Carnitine, reportedly by restoring normal oxidation of fatty
acids.7 In heart valve replacement patients, L-Carnitine has
been shown to increase the valve tissue levels of ATP, pyruvate
and creatine phosphate, which are key cellular energy
substrates. In a controlled study, L-Carnitine was administered
to 38 patients prior to open heart surgery. Prior to surgery,
heart circulatory function, as assessed by measurements of
hemodynamics, was “good” in all 38. While there was evidence of
a “preserving” effect of L-Carnitine on heart cells, no
differences in cardiac performance were observed. These results
suggest that noticeable improvements in heart muscle performance
with L-Carnitine are most likely to occur in people with
compromised hearts.8
It has been suggested that L-Carnitine
favorably influences blood lipids. Preliminary evidence of this
was seen in a small open trial on 26 patients who took 3 grams
of L-Carnitine daily for 40 days. Blood levels of cholesterol
and triglycerides dropped substantially, while the ratio of
total to HDL cholesterol–– a known marker of cardiovascular
health––markedly improved.9
While L-Carnitine is not a
treatment for heart disease, (nor should it be used as a
substitute for medical treatment) the results of these and other
studies suggest that oral consumption of L-Carnitine has a
beneficial influence on maintaining a healthy heart and
cardiovascular system.
Safety
L-Carnitine is considered
to be very safe for oral consumption. L-Carnitine is generally
well tolerated, even at doses as high as 15 grams daily.
Toxicity or overdosage has not been reported.10
Scientific
References
1. Wagenmakers, A. L-Carnitine supplementation and
performance in man. Brouns, F. ed. Advances in Nutrition and Top
Sport. Med Sport Sci. Basel, Karger, 1991;32:110-27.
2.
Arrigoni-Martelli, E., Caso, V. Carnitine protects mitochondria
and removes toxic acyls from xenobiotics. Drugs Exptl. Clin.
Res. 2001;27(1):27-49)
3. Pepine, C.J. The therapeutic
potential of carnitine in cardiovascular disorders. Clinical
Therapeutics 1991;13(1):2-21.
4. Calvani, M., Reda, E.,
Arrigoni-Martelli, E. Regulation by carnitine of myocardial
fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism under normal and
pathological conditions. Basic Research in Cardiology
2000;95(2):75-83.
5. Capaldo, B. et al. Carnitine improves
peripheral glucose disposal in non-insulin-dependent diabetic
patients. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
1991;14:191-96.
6. Fanelli, O. Carnitine and acetyl-carnitine,
natural substances endowed with interesting pharmacological
properties. Life Sciences 1978;23:2563-2570.
7. Kobayashi, A.,
Masumura, Y., Yamazaki, N. L-Carnitine treatment for congestive
heart failure-experimental and clinical study. Japanese
Circulation Journal 1992;56:86-94.
8. Pastoris, O. et al.
Effect of L-Carnitine on myocardial metabolism: results of a
balanced, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in patients
undergoing heart surgery. Pharmacological Research
1998;37(2):115-22.
9. Pola, P. et al. Carnitine in the therapy
of dyslipidemic patients. Current Therapeutic Research
1980;27(2):208-16.
10. L-Carnitine. PDR for Nutritional
Supplements. First Ed. 2001.Montvale, NJ:Medical Economics.
©
2002 Doctor's Best, Inc. Revised 7/18/02
*This statement has
not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This
product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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