L-Carnitine 250mg with B6 30 caps

Contents

2. Where does L-Carnitine occur in the human body?

The human body contains around 20–25 grams of L-Carnitine. Organs and cells with a high energy requirement (heart, muscles, immune cells, liver, kidneys, brain, nerves and sperm) contain a very high level of L-Carnitine and cannot function properly without an adequate supply.

3. What effect does L-Carnitine have on the body? L-Carnitine is important in the body for: – producing energy from fat – ensuring athletic endurance – promoting recovery – providing the heart and immune cells with energy – preventing early onset of fatigue during exercise 4. Where does L-Carnitine occur in our diet? L-Carnitine is part of our daily diet. Red meat (e.g. lamb, venison and beef) is particularly rich in L-Carnitine. Fish, poultry, milk and breast milk contain smaller amounts, while foods of plant origin contain very little L-Carnitine or none at all. We consume an average of 30–300 mg of L-Carnitine every day in our food, with the actual amount varying between 0 and 1000 mg depending on how much meat we eat.

5. Can our body produce L-Carnitine itself?

L-Carnitine is a substance that occurs naturally in the body, and we are able to produce small quantities ourselves. To produce L-Carnitine the body needs amino acids (lysine and methionine), vitamins (C, B6, B12, B3, folic acid) and trace elements (e.g. iron). An inadequate supply of any of these nutrients restricts the body’s ability to produce L-Carnitine. To produce L-Carnitine the body also needs to mobilize lysine, an amino acid bound in the muscles. The body must break down up to 30 grams of muscle protein to produce one gram of L-Carnitine. Thus the body prefers to meet its L-Carnitine requirement from food sources in order to prevent this energy-intensive mobilization of proteins.

6. Is it advisable to take supplementary L-Carnitine?

L-Carnitine is an important nutrient which should be present in sufficient quantities in a balanced diet. L-Carnitine helps to maintain the body’s health in periods of stress and to optimize the quality of life. An increased L-Carnitine intake can have a positive effect on health and fitness. Sufficient supply with L-Carnitine is especially important during performance exercise and in certain situations such as stress, pregnancy, breast feeding, old age, vegetarianism, an unbalanced diet and during weight management programmes. Taking supplementary L-Carnitine has a positive effect on the health of these individuals.

7. Who should take L-Carnitine?

L-Carnitine has such an important, fundamental function in energy metabolism that it is not surprising that many people can benefit in many ways from taking supplementary L-Carnitine: – athletes engaged in endurance or strength training as well as hobby athletes
– People following a weight-loss diet
– Pregnant and breastfeeding women
– elderly people
– Vegetarians
– Diabetics
– People who want to maintain and improve their health.

8. What benefits does L-Carnitine offer athletes?

L-Carnitine plays a particularly important role in maintaining athletic performance. L-Carnitine can counter the constriction of the blood vessels caused by physical exertion, thereby improving blood circulation and oxygen supply to the muscles. Athletic performance and endurance are enhanced and the muscles are better protected against injury. The individual can train for longer with less wear on the muscles. Recent studies show that L-Carnitine reduces recovery times after intensive exertion and improves performance following repeated exertion. This applies both to trained athletes and, more particularly, to amateurs who do sport in their leisure time. The muscle pain that is so familiar to many people after intensive activity can be reduced, allowing the individual to resume training more quickly. L-Carnitine also promotes fat burning, reduces the breakdown of amino acids and promotes protein synthesis and the formation of lean muscle mass. For professional, recreational and hobby athletes alike, L-Carnitine is like an inward training program. It promotes a lasting increase in the enjoyment of physical activity and facilitates the transition to phases of higher-intensity activity. The Italian national team used L-Carnitine during the 1982 World Cup in Spain and went on to become World Champions.

9. Is L-Carnitine a doping agent?
L-Carnitine is not a doping agent. It is a natural nutrient found in both food and the human body that helps athletes meet the increased performance demands placed upon them. L-Carnitine alone does not enhance the performance of top athletes in an unphysiological way and it is therefore not included in any of the national or international doping lists. L-Carnitine was used openly by top athletes as long ago as the 1980 Olympic Games and the 1982 World Cup in Spain; it was not considered as doping then and is not now.

10. Can L-Carnitine help weight loss? L-Carnitine can make an important contribution to controlling body weight in the long term as part of a fitness and well-being program. However, taking L-Carnitine alone will not lead to weight reduction. Studies show that a combination of L-Carnitine supplementation and reduced calorie intake – preferably coupled with physical activity – can lead to a healthier body weight. It has also been shown that L-Carnitine accelerates the burning of dietary fats: if L-Carnitine is consumed at the same time as fats, the fats are burned faster, and less fat is stored in the body tissue. L-Carnitine can also have a positive effect on unfavourable blood lipid levels. In addition, it has been shown in animals that L-Carnitine reduces the sensation of hunger and facilitates a reduction in food intake.

11. What role does L-Carnitine play for the heart?
The heart is our most important muscle, putting in an uninterrupted high performance. It obtains about 70% of its energy from fatty acids. This is why the heart also contains a high level of L-Carnitine – the uninterrupted transfer of fatty acids into the mitochondria is particularly vital in this organ. Since the heart cannot produce L-Carnitine, it is dependent on an adequate supply from the blood stream. This makes L-Carnitine an important nutrient for providing the heart with energy. A large number of studies have documented the beneficial effect of L-Carnitine on diseases of the heart muscle, fat deposition in the heart and cardiac arrhythmias. Accordingly, L-Carnitine can be used to supplement medical therapy but cannot, under any circumstances, replace it.

12. Can L-Carnitine be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
The body’s L-Carnitine requirements rise sharply during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and this requirement cannot easily be met by the diet. A large decrease in the concentration of L-Carnitine in the body is seen as early as the 12th week of pregnancy. Dietary supplements to increase the intake of L-Carnitine are therefore very useful during pregnancy. Experts at the University of Vienna, for example, advise taking between 1 and 3 grams of L-Carnitine per day to prevent L-Carnitine deficiency during pregnancy, to reduce the level of blood lipids and to promote the development of the unborn child.

13. Why is it difficult for elderly people to get sufficient L-Carnitine?
The body’s ability to produce L-Carnitine decreases with age. In addition, elderly people often have a poor appetite and they eat less. And they often eat less meat, for example to avoid high cholesterol levels. This also reduces the amount of L-Carnitine they get in their diet. Moreover, fat metabolism is slower in old age. Elderly people lose more protein from their muscles, and consequently lose valuable muscle mass. At the same time, more fat is deposited, and this puts an additional burden on the body. L-Carnitine can help to get the fat metabolism going again and to burn more fat. This is why L-Carnitine is an important nutrient for elderly people, helping to maintain their health, vitality and strength. In particular, the heart and the immune system – which weaken with age – need more L-Carnitine. The heart, for example, gets around 70% of the energy it needs from burning fatty acids, which, as we know, is not possible without L-Carnitine

14. Can vegetarians develop L-Carnitine deficiency?
L-Carnitine is found predominantly in red meat. Vegetarians therefore consume very little L-Carnitine in their diet and have lower levels of L-Carnitine in their blood. A restricted external supply of this nutrient forces the body to produce more L-Carnitine itself, but this in turn requires minerals, vitamins and amino acids (iron, vitamin C, B6, B12, B3, folic acid, lysine and methionine). The amino acid lysine can be a particular problem since the body needs to mobilize and break down muscle-bound lysine to produce L-Carnitine. Iron deficiency can also have a negative effect on the production of L-Carnitine. Reduced performance and rapid exhaustion of the muscles can be signs of L-Carnitine deficiency. L-Carnitine is obtained biologically by fermentation; it is not extracted from meat and is therefore eminently suitable for vegetarians.

15. Can L-Carnitine be recommended for diabetics?
L-Carnitine can have a beneficial effect on diabetics in a number of ways. Diabetics may have an increased L-Carnitine requirement. An additional intake of L-Carnitine can meet this requirement and lead to a reduction in blood lipid levels, which are often too high in diabetics. As mentioned before, L-Carnitine can also help to control weight, and thus has a positive effect on one of the major factors in the development of diabetes. The heart of a diabetic patient, which bears a tremendous burden, can also benefit from an increased supply of L-Carnitine. Supplementation with L-Carnitine is therefore recommended for individuals with diabetes. L-Carnitine can be used in addition to the conventional therapy and diet used to treat diabetes.

16. Do children need additional L-Carnitine?
If your child is healthy and eats a balanced diet, he/she should not require any additional L-Carnitine. But additional L-Carnitine can have a positive effect on the health of children who eat a vegetarian diet, are overweight or inactive, or suffer from diseases such as diabetes and growth disorders or frequent infections. The body’s ability to synthesize L-Carnitine doesn’t develop fully until the age of 15.

17. How can I tell if I’m not getting enough L-Carnitine? The signs of L-Carnitine deficiency are not specific and are difficult to identify. The following symptoms may occur: – Fatigue/exhaustion: Fat reserves cannot adequately be converted to energy. – Reduced physical performance: Fitness may be reduced due to a suboptimal supply of L-Carnitine. – Impaired metabolism of fat, deposition of fat in tissues: protein, instead of fat, is used for energy production. This can impair weight loss during dieting. 18. How should I take L-Carnitine? L-Carnitine, like vitamins, should be taken in the morning, at lunchtime and in the early afternoon. It is not recommended to take L-Carnitine in the evening or before going to bed because elevated doses can make people more active and increase wakefulness. Taking large amounts of L-Carnitine after 8.00 p.m. can make falling asleep difficult. L-Carnitine should be taken in small doses no larger than 500–1000 mg either during or after a meal. As part of a weight-loss program, during pregnancy, for vegetarians and athletes, it may be advisable to take up to 2–3 grams per day as a dietary supplement. In practice, many top athletes increase the dose to as much as 3–5 grams per day before competitions. In any case, the user's attention should be drawn to the various national legal requirements, some of which stipulate maximum dosages. 19. What happens if I take too much L-Carnitine? L-Carnitine is a water-soluble nutrient and, like water-soluble vitamins, excessive quantities are eliminated by the kidneys in the urine. 20. Does L-Carnitine have side effects? L-Carnitine is a substance that occurs naturally in the body in relatively large amounts (approx. 20–25 grams). L-Carnitine is also found in our food, particularly in red meat. L-Carnitine is therefore safe and can be taken on a long-term basis for months or even years without harmful side effects. There have been reports of mild, transient diarrhoea in some individuals consuming very large quantities. However, recent studies have shown that a dose of 3 grams taken in the course of the day does not cause this kind of effect.

21. Are there different forms of L-Carnitine?
In addition to the naturally occurring form of L-Carnitine, purely chemical synthesis produces its unnatural mirror image, known as D-Carnitine. However, only the natural form, L-Carnitine, is biologically active. The unnatural form, D-Carnitine, has no beneficial effects; consuming it leads to a deficiency of L-Carnitine and side effects, and so it must not be present in L-Carnitine products. The company Lonza, which is based in Basel (Switzerland), produces L-Carnitine using the natural, biological L-Carnipure® process that results in 100% L-Carnitine free of D-Carnitine. This is why Lonza developed the L-Carnipure® seal of quality. Products bearing this seal are guaranteed to contain no D-Carnitine. L-Carnipure® is also free of genetically modified organisms and material of animal origin. The manufacturing process is also ecologically compatible since all the production residues are biodegradable. The production process is unique and has been patented by Lonza.

22. What sort of products containing L-Carnitine are available?
There is a wide variety of products. L-Carnitine is available in the form of capsules, tablets, ready-to-drink ampoules, powdered drinks and effervescent tablets. Other popular products include sport drinks and energy bars containing L-Carnitine. L-Carnitine is being added increasingly to food products such as biscuits, bread, sausages and yoghurt. And the first mineral water containing L-Carnitine is now available.

23. Where can I buy products containing L-Carnitine?
Products containing L-Carnitine are available in pharmacies, drugstores, health-food shops, sports shops, fitness centres and department stores.

24. Where can I find more information about L-Carnitine?
At www.carnipure.com and in a book published by Lotus Press: L-Carnitine “The supernutrient for fitness” by Walter Lübeck, ISBN 0-914955-59-4