In pursuit of a dream, which is a dream of a beautiful, fit figure, people – more often, of course, women – are ready to make all sorts of sacrifices. Someone agrees to sit on a low-calorie diet for weeks on end, someone – almost every day to sweat in the gym behind the simulator. But there are those who prefer not to commit special violence against themselves, but to take certain drugs, the action of which is aimed at reducing the amount of adipose tissue in the body. One such natural supplement is L-carnitine.

General information about L-carnitine (l-carnitine)
L-carnitine is a vitamin-like compound, which in its physicochemical and functional properties is very reminiscent of representatives of the B-group. It is even sometimes referred to as vitamin Bt or B11. And yet, it is worth remembering firmly and understanding for yourself a simple but important thing: the substance we are considering is not a vitamin, since the human body is able to synthesize it on its own.

The discovery of L-carnitine dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and took place in 1905. It belonged to Russian scientists R.P. Krimberg and V.S. Gulevich. Their merit in this case was the isolation of the organic compound of interest to us from the muscle tissues of animals. By the way, the name of the substance contains a direct indication of this circumstance: the word “carnis” is translated as “meat”.

More than half a century later, in 1962, the biochemical role of the compound in living organisms was established. It turned out that this compound plays the role of a transporter of fatty acids with long chains of molecules into the mitochondria, bypassing the inner membrane of the cell. Around the same time, an artificial synthesis of L-carnitine was established.

In its pure form, the described organic substance is a white powder with a crystalline structure. It is characterized by excellent solubility in water and excellent hygroscopicity. As a rule, the term “L-carnitine” appears in the materials related to this dietary supplement. In fact, this is one of the two isomers of the compound, which brings invaluable benefits to the biological organism. The second form is called D-carnitine and is definitely harmful to human life.

The formation of L-carnitine occurs in the kidneys and liver. Numerous B vitamins are involved in this process, as well as some amino acids, enzymes and the trace element iron. From these organs, carnitine enters other parts and tissues of the body.

Functions of L-carnitine
L-carnitine within a living organism shows many useful properties. It increases the stress resistance of a person, facilitates his adaptation to changing conditions. With the participation of L-carnitine, harmful compounds are neutralized, namely xenobiotics and aggressive organic acids. Under the influence of this vitamin-like substance, the level of “bad” cholesterol is reduced, which significantly reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. And L-carnitine has a powerful antioxidant effect. Thus, the substance of interest to us prevents the development of cancer, protects the heart, blood vessels, retina and other most vulnerable organs from the activity of free radicals. The bonuses of the vitamin-like compound include the prevention of osteoporosis, apoptosis, the acceleration of tissue regeneration, and the provision of a neuroprotective effect.

L-carnitine and sports

However, the main functions of the substance relate directly to the correction of the figure. This allows the use of this dietary supplement by athletes and people who want to lose weight. In big professional sports, L-carnitine was first used in 1980, during the Olympic Games. Bioadditive as an addition to the basic diet was given to Italian football players who participated in the Olympics. Apparently, the results were remarkable, because after that L-carnitine began to be widely used in the production of sports nutrition. It has also received widespread medical use due to its healing power.

What specific properties of an organic compound are we talking about?

Firstly, it is the conversion of adipose tissue cells into energy. It is important to note: L-carnitine, contrary to common misconceptions, does not have a fat-burning effect. But it transfers lipids to the mitochondria of muscle cells, and there, under the influence of aerobic loads, adipose tissue undergoes metamorphosis with the release of a huge amount of energy.
Secondly, it is an increase in activity – both mental and physical. At one time, a study was even conducted confirming this fact: volunteers on For half a year, they were given 2 g of a dietary supplement daily, which led to an improvement in their mood, an increase in the overall tone of the body and, most importantly, the level of endurance of athletes.
Thirdly, the widespread use of L-carnitine by athletes is due to the anabolic functions of the organic compound. This means that taking a dietary supplement, in addition to losing adipose tissue and, accordingly, excess weight, also provokes an increase in lean muscle mass. This circumstance was proved experimentally, although no one has yet fully figured out the mechanism of this action.
Fourth, L-carnitine protects muscles from destruction.

In order for the effect of the use of the supplement to be maximum, the intake of L-carnitine should be combined with a special training program and a balanced diet. By the way, this substance has nothing to do with doping, and its excesses do not linger in the body.

How to take L-carnitine (l-carnitine)

Athletes should take L-carnitine in a special way. In order to lose weight, it is recommended to consume 1200 mg of L-carnitine per day. However, this dose should not be taken all at once, but divided into portions. The first 600 mg of the dietary supplement should be consumed in the form of capsules before meals (3 times a day), the second part of the recommended average daily allowance – in liquid form 30 minutes before the start of the workout. As a result, we have such a scheme for taking L-carnitine for people involved in sports:

before breakfast (20 minutes) – 200 mg of L-carnitine;
before dinner – 200 mg of a dietary supplement;
10 minutes before an afternoon snack – 200 mg of the drug;
half an hour before training – 600 mg of L-carnitine.

Foods and drinks containing caffeine while taking a vitamin-like compound should be limited due to the stimulating effect that the latter has on the nervous system.

If you do not play sports and want to include an L-carnitine-based supplement in your diet, follow a different recommendation: take the drug three times a day with meals. A single dose is 1-2 capsules. Obese people can increase the indicated rate by 2 times. You need to use L-carnitine in this way for a month, then you should take a break of 30 days and repeat the course of therapy.