Carnitine is a derivative word of “carnus” which means flesh in Latin. This nutrient is responsible in the metabolization process that converts fat to energy. How? It transports the fatty acid into the mitochondria, the power-house or the energy-producing centers of the cell. Thus, allowing the body to function primarily with its muscular activities. The carnitine is produced in the body specifically in the liver and kidneys, and stores it in the skeletal muscles, heart, brain and even sperm. Carnitine is the generic term for a number of compounds like L-carnitine, L-acetylcarnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and L-Propionyl carnitine. These compounds also have different although some have similar functions in the body, and that is to burn fats.

On the other hand, there are some dietary sources of carnitine like dairy products and meats are very rich of this nutrient.  It can also be found in the following foods:

I.    Nuts and Seeds
Pumpkin
Sunflower
Sesame

II.    Legumes or Pulses
Beans
Peas
Lentils
Peanuts

III.    Vegetables
Artichokes
Asparagus
Beet greens
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Okra
Parsley

IV.    Fruits
Apricots
Banana

V.    Cereals
Buckwheat
Corn
Millet
Oatmeal
Rice bran
Rye
Whole wheat
Wheat bran
Wheat germ

So some people with dietary deficiency of carnitine may get natural supplements from these kinds of foods. The cause of such deficiency maybe genetic disorders, kidney or liver problems, some side effects of medications, poor diets like less intake of food that contains amino acid lysine and methionine which are needed to produce carnitine in the body, or high fat intake. Among these symptoms of carnitine deficient are fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, chest pain, low blood pressure and sometime confusion. Because of this health problem, physician recommends patients with this deficiency to take carnitine supplement.

Although there are medical benefits that carnitine brings, The carnitine put forth a significant antioxidant combat, in that way  it provides a defensive effect against lipoperoxidation of phospholipid membranes and against oxidative stress stimulated at the myocardial and endothelial cell level. In addition, carnitine is proven as a good treatment in children who have recessive defects in the carnitine transporter system and also in patients treated with pivalate containing antibiotics.

As demand raise higher for Carnitine as dietary supplement, it is now available as over-the-counter drug in any pharmacy.  It is believed to aid to weight loss and improve exercise performances among health conscious individuals, body builders and athletes.

Carnitine, despite the fact that it is prescribed mostly to aid deficiency of the nutrients and brings balance to our body’s needs, is also used to treat other disease and illnesses. Some of these diseases are heart disease, liver disease caused by excessive drinking of alcohol, Alzheimer disease, Peyronie’s diseases and kidney disease. It is used also to treat children with Down syndrome, those that have eating disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome and hyperthyroidism.

You can buy carnitine supplement either plant-based or meat-based. It can either have 5 mg up to 100 mg carnitine contains.