What is L-carnitine?
Carnitine is obtained from amino acids and is found in almost all cells of the body. There are two specific types of carnitine: L-carnitine and D-carnitine. It is L-carnitine that plays a role in human metabolism and exists in free and lipidated forms in the human body.
The human body can synthesize L-carnitine itself, and the animal foods we often eat, especially red meat, contain carnitine, so normal people are less likely to lack L-carnitine, and there is no need to specifically L-carnitine supplement.
What are the benefits of L-carnitine?
1. Promote fatty acid oxidation
The most important function of carnitine is as a carrier, transporting long-chain fatty acids from outside the mitochondria to the cell membrane, and promoting the β-oxidation of fatty acids. High concentrations of carnitine can improve the utilization of fat energy.
2. Regulate the oxidative utilization of pyruvic acid
Carnitine promotes the oxidative utilization of pyruvate and reduces the accumulation of lactic acid by changing the ratio of acetyl-CoA/CoA.
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