L-Carnitine

L-carnitine, sometimes referred to as simply carnitine, is a nutrient manufactured from the amino acids methionine and lysine in the liver and kidneys and stored in the brain, heart, muscles tissue, and sperm. Most people produce sufficient amounts of this nutrient to stay healthy. Certain medical disorders, however, may prevent carnitine biosynthesis or inhibit its distribution to tissue cells, such as intermittent claudication, heart disease, and certain genetic disorders. Some medications may also adversely affect carnitine metabolism in the body.The primary function of L-carnitine is to convert lipids, or fats, into fuel for energy. Specifically, its role is to move fatty acids into the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells that reside within the protective membranes that surround cells. Here, the fatty acids undergo beta oxidation and break down to form acetate.