L-Carnitine 101: The Three Forms that Help Power Your Energy Levels
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring compound crucial in our body’s energy production process. If you look at pretty much any energy drink, you’ll find that L-carnitine is a key ingredient. That being said, the amount of L-carnitine in such drinks isn’t typically high enough to have any discernible effect. Instead, these drinks rely on sugar and caffeine for a short-term energy burst.
While L-carnitine isn’t a direct energy booster or a stimulant, it does play an essential role in the processes that maintain steady energy levels. This article outlines what L-Carnitine is, how it can help you, and the different forms of it.
What Is L-Carnitine & How Does It Work?
L-carnitine is derived from a pair of amino acids called lysine and methionine. While it’s generally produced naturally in the kidneys and liver, it’s stored mainly in tissues that use fatty acids for fuel, like the heart, muscles, and even parts of our brain. You’ll find the compound naturally in foods such as dairy products, poultry, red meat, and avocados. However, many people turn to L-carnitine in supplement form.
The mitochondria, also known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” rely on fatty acids as one of their primary fuel sources. This is particularly the case during lengthy exercise or other physical activity periods. The purpose of L-carnitine is to help make transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria smoother. These fatty acids are then broken down for energy.
If we don’t have high enough levels of L-carnitine in our systems, the journey gets rougher, meaning we have less energy available, especially in periods when high activity means we need it more.
Granted, L-carnitine isn’t a direct stimulant like sugar or caffeine, but it does improve the body’s efficiency in using stored fats, thus ensuring a steady supply of energy.
Here’s How L-Carnitine Can Help in Practice
Since L-carnitine transports fatty acids to the mitochondria, it helps convert them into energy. If you’re an endurance athlete, you’ll benefit because a slow-burning, sustainable energy source is precisely what you need when cycling, running, swimming, or engaging in another form of exercise for an extended period.
If you exercise with intensity or for a long time, lactic acid buildup can be a big problem, with fatigue and muscle soreness becoming twin terrors. It’s possible that L-carnitine could make the fat-burning process more efficient, reducing the buildup of lactic acid and ensuring that recovery from exercise is a little smoother.
There are many reasons why people try L-carnitine. As mentioned, endurance athletes who want prolonged energy will seek the compound. It’s also used by individuals seeking better weight management and athletes who want to support muscle function will also likely reach for L-carnitine.
Overall, the compound might benefit active individuals, vegans, vegetarians (since L-carnitine is mainly found in animal products), older adults, and people on specific diets (such as the keto diet).
What Are the Different Types of L-Carnitine?
You might be surprised to learn that there are three leading derivatives of L-carnitine, and we explore them briefly below.
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
This is one of the most widely used forms of L-carnitine in sports and fitness supplements because it absorbs quickly. It combines the compound with tartaric acid, resulting in greater stability and a higher absorption rate.
L-carnitine L-tartrate promotes sustained energy release, making it useful for prolonged, high-intensity activities such as cycling, weight training, or running. Each one of our Thermo Genic gummies contains 500mg of L-carnitine L-tartrate.
Those who use this form of L-carnitine tend to use it 30 to 60 minutes before exercising.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Also known as ALCAR, this form of L-carnitine has been modified to include an acetyl group. It is often used to support mental clarity and focus. Individuals who are preparing to work long hours, study, or support overall brain function may want to try this version.
Once again, it’s absorbed fairly quickly and you may want to use it in the morning to enjoy the best effects. By the way, one of our Thermo Genic gummies contains 100mg of the compound.
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
Last but not least is propionyl-L-carnitine, a form of the compound that combines with propionic acid. It’s favoured amongst people who want to support cardiovascular function. As it has a role in the production of nitric oxide, propionyl-L-carnitine might be of interest to athletes.
Most people who use this version of L-carnitine will consume it before physical activity.
L-Carnitine: The Final Word
L-carnitine isn’t a stimulant. Rather, it’s a metabolic acid that supports our body’s ability to transport and convert fats into energy within the mitochondria. It won’t provide an energy boost immediately, but it does have a supporting role in the body’s capacity to produce energy efficiently, especially when engaged in physical activity.
It supports steady, sustainable energy production and is regularly used by people who live an active lifestyle. Rather than consuming it in the form of an energy drink, why not try our Thermo Genic gummies instead?
