{"id":49324,"date":"2024-03-08T11:57:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T00:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/?p=49324"},"modified":"2024-06-19T01:14:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T15:14:52","slug":"what-do-l-carnitine-supplements-really-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/?p=49324","title":{"rendered":"What Do L-Carnitine Supplements Really Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 data-jsid=\"expanderHead\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-49325\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/L_Carnitine-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"L Carnitine\" width=\"763\" height=\"430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/L_Carnitine-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/L_Carnitine.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3 id=\"expanderHead\" data-jsid=\"expanderHead\">Analysis by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mercola.com\/forms\/background.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Joseph Mercola<\/a><\/h3>\n<h3 data-jsid=\"expanderHead\">STORY AT-A-GLANCE<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span id=\"bcr_rptStory_cslStory_0\">Your body needs carnitine for energy production; it helps transport long-chain fatty acids into your mitochondria where they\u2019re oxidized and turned into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"bcr_rptStory_cslStory_1\">Acetyl-L-carnitine has many beneficial effects on brain metabolism, protects against neurotoxic insults and has been shown to benefit certain forms of depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"bcr_rptStory_cslStory_2\">Carnitine has been widely studied for autism as a treatment that targets mitochondria; one meta-analysis found low carnitine in 80% of children with autism<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"bcr_rptStory_cslStory_3\">Carnitine may help moderate oxidative stress and decrease inflammation, benefiting heart health; it may also help prevent potentially fatal arrhythmias<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span id=\"bcr_rptStory_cslStory_4\">Carnitine supplementation significantly improved ovulation and pregnancy rates, while reducing BMI and insulin resistance, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"bodytext\" class=\"bodytextdiv\" data-swiftype-name=\"postbody\" data-swiftype-type=\"text\">\n<p>Carnitine is another important nutrient that\u2019s abundant in animal foods. Your body produces L-carnitine from the amino acid lysine, and while healthy people are typically able to synthesize enough, certain conditions \u2014 like pregnancy \u2014 may cause your body\u2019s need for carnitine to exceed its ability to produce it. For this reason, carnitine is considered a conditionally essential nutrient.<sup><span id=\"edn1\" data-hash=\"#ednref1\">1<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are forms of carnitine found in dietary supplements. While your body absorbs carnitine from animal foods such as grass fed beef better than carnitine in dietary supplements,<sup><span id=\"edn2\" data-hash=\"#ednref2\">2<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0some research suggests L-carnitine supplements may benefit certain conditions.<\/p>\n<h2>Carnitine for Brain Health<\/h2>\n<p>Your body needs carnitine for energy production. It helps transport long-chain fatty acids into your mitochondria where they\u2019re oxidized and turned into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP),<sup><span id=\"edn3\" data-hash=\"#ednref3\">3<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0which is needed by your cells for life, repair and regeneration. Carnitine may also help remove toxins from the mitochondria.<sup><span id=\"edn4\" data-hash=\"#ednref4\">4<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is more easily absorbed in your gut than L-carnitine, and also crosses the blood-brain barrier.<sup><span id=\"edn5\" data-hash=\"#ednref5\">5<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0ALCAR has many beneficial effects on brain metabolism, protects against neurotoxic insults and has been shown to benefit certain forms of depression. In one study,<sup><span id=\"edn6\" data-hash=\"#ednref6\">6<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0healthy mice given ALCAR for 25 days at a dose of about half a gram per kilo were found to have increased levels of the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and serotonin.<\/p>\n<p>According to the authors, this is &#8220;consistent with ALCAR&#8217;s potential efficacy for depressive symptoms.&#8221; In another study, ALCAR was found to improve the clinical condition of patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia, a condition resulting in the loss of control of bodily movements.<sup><span id=\"edn7\" data-hash=\"#ednref7\">7<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0According to the authors, &#8220;statistically significant improvement of some symptoms and a slow progression of the disease in both groups of patients&#8221; were observed.<\/p>\n<h2>Carnitine for Alzheimer\u2019s Disease and Autism<\/h2>\n<div class=\"MidProductAd\"><\/div>\n<p>Carnitine is also being studied for use in Alzheimer\u2019s disease. According to the National Institutes of Health:<sup><span id=\"edn8\" data-hash=\"#ednref8\">8<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Cholinergic neurons use the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and Alzheimer\u2019s disease is often treated by increasing acetylcholine levels or preventing its breakdown.\u00a0<\/em><em>Carnitine might be conditionally essential in individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s disease because it may support acetylcholine synthesis and help remove toxic compounds to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction associated with extensive degeneration of brain structures.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>Therefore, researchers have examined whether acetyl-L-carnitine supplements benefit individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or other forms of dementia, but studies have had mixed results.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In a meta-analysis of 21 studies, adults with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer\u2019s disease took 1.5 grams to 3 grams of acetyl-L-carnitine or placebo daily for three to 12 months. Those taking acetyl-L-carnitine had greater improvements than those taking placebo.<sup><span id=\"edn9\" data-hash=\"#ednref9\">9<\/span>,<\/sup><sup><span id=\"edn10\" data-hash=\"#ednref10\">10<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also been widely studied for autism as a treatment that targets mitochondria. One meta-analysis found low carnitine in 80% of children with autism.<sup><span id=\"edn11\" data-hash=\"#ednref11\">11<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0As explained in Seminars in Pediatric Neurology:<sup><span id=\"edn12\" data-hash=\"#ednref12\">12<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Two medium sized (n = 30, 30) double-blind placebo-controlled studies using L-carnitine treatment (50 mg\/kg\/d for 3 months and 100 mg\/kg\/d for 6 months) found that scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) improved with L-carnitine as compared to placebo with one study finding that greater symptomatic improvement was correlated with a greater increase in blood carnitine levels.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>A small (n = 10) 8-week open-label trial of L-carnitine used particularly high doses (up to 400 mg\/kg\/d in 3 divided doses, maximum of 6000 mg\/d) &#8230;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>Several parental rated measures showed improvements in behavior and hyperactivity before correction for multiple comparisons and improvements in language correlated with post-treatment blood carnitine levels. Children with ASD and genetic mutations in the carnitine pathway also appear to response to L-carnitine.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u2026 Thus, L-Carnitine is a promising treatment for children with ASD. For child neurologists, it is always important to remember that children with ASD could have an underlying defect in carnitine metabolism.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"productad\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"download-desktop\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #666666; font-size: 1.25rem;\">Carnitine for Heart Health<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s some evidence that carnitine may help moderate oxidative stress and decrease inflammation, benefitting heart health. It may also help prevent potentially fatal arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms.<sup><span id=\"edn13\" data-hash=\"#ednref13\">13<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>One meta-analysis involving 3,629 adults found, &#8220;Compared with placebo or control, L-carnitine is associated with a 27% reduction in all-cause mortality, a 65% reduction in Vas [ventricular arrhythmias], and a 40% reduction in anginal symptoms in patients experiencing an acute myocardial infarction.&#8221;<sup><span id=\"edn14\" data-hash=\"#ednref14\">14<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s some controversy over carnitine for cardiovascular disease, however, because it\u2019s metabolized by gut microbiota into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a substance associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,<sup><span id=\"edn15\" data-hash=\"#ednref15\">15<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0although the evidence on that is mixed.<\/p>\n<p>According to James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D., who is also the coauthor of my book, &#8220;Superfuel: Ketogenic Keys to Unlock the Secrets of Good Fats, Bad Fats, and Great Health,&#8221; the likely true cause of elevated TMAO levels is hepatic insulin resistance.<sup><span id=\"edn16\" data-hash=\"#ednref16\">16<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Because carnitine (and choline) raises TMAO, some recommend limiting dietary and supplementary intake of these nutrients.<\/p>\n<p>However, DiNicolantonio and his coauthors point out there&#8217;s a significant flaw in this theory, stating, &#8220;\u2026 supplemental carnitine is known to be highly protective in patients with vascular disease; and fish, the richest dietary source of preformed TMAO, is also protective.&#8221;<sup><span id=\"edn17\" data-hash=\"#ednref17\">17<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0There&#8217;s little evidence to suggest that dietary intake of TMAO or its precursors actually promote CVD, provided your renal function is normal. DiNicolantonio explains:<sup><span id=\"edn18\" data-hash=\"#ednref18\">18<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;With respect to carnitine and CV risk, a meta-analysis<sup><span id=\"edn19\" data-hash=\"#ednref19\">19<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0of prospective clinical trials in patients who had recently experienced a myocardial infarction concluded that carnitine supplementation is markedly protective with respect to total mortality, ventricular arrhythmias and new-onset angina \u2026<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>Clinical trials<sup><span id=\"edn20\" data-hash=\"#ednref20\">20<\/span>,<\/sup><sup><span id=\"edn21\" data-hash=\"#ednref21\">21<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0have also reported favorable effects of supplemental carnitine or carnitine esters on angina, intermittent claudication and heart failure.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>Moreover, rodent atherogenesis studies, in which carnitine has been administered in doses reasonably proportional to the supplementation doses used clinically, have found that carnitine is anti-atherogenic, despite its propensity to raise TMAO \u2026<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>It is therefore reasonable to suspect that moderately elevated TMAO, rather than being a mediator of the associated CV risk, is a marker for factors which both promote CV events and increase plasma TMAO.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Carnitine for Weight Loss<\/h2>\n<p>Research suggests L-carnitine supplements, which are the least expensive form on the market with an absorption rate of 14% to 18%,<sup><span id=\"edn22\" data-hash=\"#ednref22\">22<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0may be useful for weight loss. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 trials, L-carnitine supplementation significantly decreased body weight, body mass index and fat mass, particularly in adults who are overweight or obese.<sup><span id=\"edn23\" data-hash=\"#ednref23\">23<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A nonlinear dose-response association was seen between L-carnitine supplementation and body weight reduction \u2026 suggesting that ingestion of 2000 mg L-carnitine per day provides the maximum effect in adults,&#8221; the team, from Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Iran, noted.<sup><span id=\"edn24\" data-hash=\"#ednref24\">24<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<h2>Carnitine May Improve Fertility<\/h2>\n<p>L-carnitine concentrates in the epididymis, a duct behind the testis where sperm mature. Concentrations of L-carnitine in semen have been linked to the number of sperm, suggesting it may play an important role in fertility in men. Some research also shows that L-carnitine supplementation for two months may improve sperm quality and motility.<sup><span id=\"edn25\" data-hash=\"#ednref25\">25<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0According to the NIH:<sup><span id=\"edn26\" data-hash=\"#ednref26\">26<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Carnitine might play a role in sperm maturation, sperm motility, and spermatogenesis. It might also reduce oxidative stress, which could improve oocyte growth and maturation. Therefore, researchers are examining whether supplemental carnitine improves sperm count, concentration, and motility as well as pregnancy rates.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can affect fertility, may also benefit from carnitine. A systematic review and meta-analysis involving women with PCOS revealed that carnitine supplementation ranging from 250 mg to 3,000 mg daily for 84 to 90 days significantly improved ovulation and pregnancy rates, while reducing BMI and insulin resistance.<sup><span id=\"edn27\" data-hash=\"#ednref27\">27<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<h2>Carnitine to Boost Athletic Performance<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s interest in the use of carnitine to enhance athletic performance, in part because carnitine preserves muscle glycogen while boosting fat oxidation. &#8220;It also spares the use of amino acids as energy sources during exercise, making them potentially available for new protein synthesis, and decreases the accumulation of lactate,&#8221; NIH notes,<sup><span id=\"edn28\" data-hash=\"#ednref28\">28<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0but research is mixed on its benefits.<\/p>\n<p>In one study published in the Journal of Physiology, the data showed L-carnitine supplementation for six months raised levels of muscle carnitine by 21%.<sup><span id=\"edn29\" data-hash=\"#ednref29\">29<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Further, participants taking carnitine supplements raised their athletic performance and work output by 11% in a 30-minute performance trial.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers explained this improvement &#8220;by the dual role of carnitine \u2014 glycogen sparing at low intensities and reduced muscle lactate accumulation at high intensities.&#8221;<sup><span id=\"edn30\" data-hash=\"#ednref30\">30<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Where carnitine further shines is for those with frailty. It\u2019s been suggested that carnitine deficiency could cause frailty via mitochondrial dysfunction, with research showing pre-frail older adults had decreases in frailty and improvement in hand grip strength when they took 1.5 grams of carnitine daily for 10 weeks.<sup><span id=\"edn31\" data-hash=\"#ednref31\">31<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<h2>Carnitine for Liver Health and More<\/h2>\n<p>Additional research is looking into the effects of carnitine supplementation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that L-carnitine supplementation may improve liver function and regulate triglyceride metabolism in those with NAFLD. Writing in Systematic Reviews, researchers explained:<sup><span id=\"edn32\" data-hash=\"#ednref32\">32<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;The main drivers in NAFLD are inflammation and accumulation of lipids, and L-carnitine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects by upregulating the peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-\u03b3 (PPAR-\u03b3) in the liver. L-carnitine is also closely related to fat metabolism.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Beyond the liver, carnitine also shows promise for a range of other health conditions, including:<sup><span id=\"edn33\" data-hash=\"#ednref33\">33<\/span>,<span id=\"edn34\" data-hash=\"#ednref34\">34<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Insulin resistance<\/li>\n<li>Diabetes<\/li>\n<li>Osteoarthritis<\/li>\n<li>Muscle cramps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In another example, a systematic review and meta-analysis found men and women experienced improvements in waist circumference and blood pressure, two biomarkers of metabolic syndrome, when taking carnitine supplements.<sup><span id=\"edn35\" data-hash=\"#ednref35\">35<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>The studies used carnitine doses between 0.75 grams (gm) and 3 gm per day for eight to 24 weeks, with researchers suggesting biomarkers of metabolic syndrome could improve with a carnitine dose of 1 gm to 3 gm per day, by reducing fasting blood sugar and triglycerides, while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.<\/p>\n<h2>Are You Getting Enough Carnitine?<\/h2>\n<p>Most people can effectively synthesize between 11 mg and 34 mg of carnitine per day, which is typically enough to prevent deficiency.<sup><span id=\"edn36\" data-hash=\"#ednref36\">36<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Animal foods, including meat, seafood and dairy, are the richest sources of L-carnitine, so if you eat animal protein it will virtually assure you receive enough carnitine without having to take supplements.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you eat a primarily plant-based diet or are targeting certain conditions, you may need to consider supplementation. Acetyl-L-carnitine (not regular L-carnitine), for instance, appears to be particularly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/takecontrol.substack.com\/p\/longevity-vitamins-and-minerals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">beneficial for improving memory<\/a>, but you need about 2,000 mg to 2,500 mg a day. Most notice a difference after a few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>If you do choose to supplement, be sure to choose a reputable source. When NOW Foods tested seven largely unknown brands of acetyl-L-carnitine, none met label claims and most were labeled incorrectly.<sup><span id=\"edn37\" data-hash=\"#ednref37\">37<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"social-icons-bottom narrow-width\">\n<p><a role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Farticles.mercola.com%2Fsites%2Farticles%2Farchive%2F2024%2F03%2F07%2Fwhat-do-l-carnitine-supplements-really-do.aspx%3Fui%3D3b72fa71e5f1317e30d882e63ba33833c501a09b553937da5fcc7736d8e1c7e9%26sd%3D20210307%26cid_source%3Ddnl%26cid_medium%3Demail%26cid_content%3Dart1ReadMore%26cid%3D20240307%26foDate%3Dfalse%26mid%3DDM1540025%26rid%3D2063886481\" name=\"Facebook Page\" aria-label=\"Facebook Page\"><\/a><\/p>\n<ul id=\"footnote-references2\">\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref1\" data-hash=\"#edn1\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">1<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/lpi.oregonstate.edu\/mic\/dietary-factors\/L-carnitine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linus Pauling Institute, L-Carnitine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref2\" data-hash=\"#edn2\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">2<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Carnitine-Consumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NIH, Carnitine, Consumer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref3\" data-hash=\"#edn3\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">3,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref4\" data-hash=\"#edn4\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">4,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref8\" data-hash=\"#edn8\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">8,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref9\" data-hash=\"#edn9\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">9,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref13\" data-hash=\"#edn13\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">13,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref15\" data-hash=\"#edn15\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">15,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref33\" data-hash=\"#edn33\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">33<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Carnitine-HealthProfessional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NIH, Carnitine, Health Professional<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref5\" data-hash=\"#edn5\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">5,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref22\" data-hash=\"#edn22\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">22<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/l-carnitine-supplements-really-164503626.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo June 23, 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref6\" data-hash=\"#edn6\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">6<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22549035\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Neurochemistry International 2012 Jul;61(1):100-7<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref7\" data-hash=\"#edn7\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">7<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10803803\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clinical Neuropharmacology 2000 Mar-Apr;23(2):114-8<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref10\" data-hash=\"#edn10\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">10<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12598816\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003 Mar;18(2):61-71. doi: 10.1097\/00004850-200303000-00001<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref11\" data-hash=\"#edn11\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">11<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1071909120300401#sec0003\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seminars in Pediatric Neurology October 2020, Volume 35, 100829, ASD Is Associated With Unique Disorders of Mitochondrial Metabolism<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref12\" data-hash=\"#edn12\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">12<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1071909120300401\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seminars in Pediatric Neurology October 2020, Volume 35, 100829<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref14\" data-hash=\"#edn14\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">14,<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<sup><span id=\"ednref19\" data-hash=\"#edn19\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">19<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23597877\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mayo Clin Proc. 2013 Jun;88(6):544-51. doi: 10.1016\/j.mayocp.2013.02.007. 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12: 74<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref35\" data-hash=\"#edn35\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">35<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7551203\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nutrients, 2020;12(9):2795<\/a><\/li>\n<li><sup><span id=\"ednref37\" data-hash=\"#edn37\"><span id=\"lblReferenceNo\">37<\/span><\/span><\/sup>\u00a0<a id=\"lnkReference\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nowfoods.com\/healthy-living\/articles\/all-acetyl-l-carnitine-not-created-equal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NOW, All Acetyl-l-Carnitine Is Not Created Equal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2024\/03\/07\/what-do-l-carnitine-supplements-really-do.aspx\">https:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2024\/03\/07\/what-do-l-carnitine-supplements-really-do.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Analysis by\u00a0Dr. Joseph Mercola STORY AT-A-GLANCE Your body needs carnitine for energy production; it helps transport long-chain fatty acids into your mitochondria where they\u2019re oxidized and turned into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) Acetyl-L-carnitine has many beneficial effects on brain metabolism, protects against neurotoxic insults and has been shown to benefit certain &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/?p=49324\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;What Do L-Carnitine Supplements Really Do?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-interest","category-health-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49324"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50291,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49324\/revisions\/50291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}