Introduction
L-carnitine is a substance derived from carnitine, which is found throughout the human body and plays an important role in many mechanisms of energy production in cellular tissue. L-carnitine ensures, for example, that certain substances such as long-chain fatty acids are transported through the cell walls of the mitochondria (also known as the power plants of the cell), where they are converted into energy. Without L-carnitine, this process would not be possible in the body.
In addition to this important role in the fat metabolism of the cells, L-carnitine also plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism. Endurance athletes usually eat a very high carbohydrate diet and therefore also consume less meat through food that contains a lot of L-carnitine. Thus L-Carnitin can help here as a dietary supplement to optimize the fat burning in the cells of endurance athletes.
This is especially important in ultra endurance sports, such as a marathon or a bicycle tour (Tour de France). L-carnitine can be used as a supplement to support endurance sports. Performance-limiting for endurance is the maximum oxygen intake (VO2max), which represents the transport capacity of oxygen from our breathing air.
In many studies it could be confirmed that L-carnitine has a positive effect on the maximum oxygen intake. VO2max could be significantly increased and the respiratory quotient also benefited in the form of a reduction. The respiratory quotient is the ratio of exhaled carbon dioxide and inhaled oxygen in the same time.
The lower the respiratory quotient (RQ), the higher the fat metabolism is involved in the energy supply. L-carnitine can also help with weight reduction, as it increases the proportion of fat metabolism. A prerequisite for this, however, is that the person is on a calorie-reduced diet, as otherwise the body has too much energy available and cannot use the fat cells to produce energy.
The higher one sets thereby the dosage with L-Carnitin, the more highly also the desired weight reduction can fail. However one should think of the calorie-poor nutrition. Training should not be neglected, as otherwise the energy requirement is too low to achieve the desired weight loss.
