Your mitochondria depend upon the amino acid carnitine to get the fuel they need from the healthy fats in your diet. Aging, obesity, vegetarian diets, vitamin deficiencies and genetic issues can all lower your carnitine levels. Insufficient carnitine can lead to malfunctioning and dying mitochondria, which in turn can cause an increase in cellular aging and the breakdown of tissues and organs. Supplementing with L-carnitine can help disrupt this cycle. Dr Mercola's Carnitine Complex is specially formulated with the two most valuable forms of L-carnitine – L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine to support cellular, muscle, heart and brain health. Who can potentially benefit from Carnitine Complex?
- Anyone who wants to help maintain their health as they age
- Individuals over 55, when muscle mass and function begin to decline
- Individuals engaging in endurance or strength training
- People following weight management regimens
- Vegans, vegetarians and people who eat very little meat
The majority of the population are metabolically inflexible, which means most people are unable to easily switch between burning fats and carbs as their primary fuel. Because that affects mitochondrial function, most people are good candidates for
Carnitine Complex.
L-carnitine
L-carnitine helps your body produce cellular energy. It’s important for muscle movement, heart and brain function, and many other essential body functions.
Often viewed as one of the most important nutrients for muscle health and sports nutrition, L-carnitine is essential for far more than physical performance. While it enables your cells to burn fat for energy to fuel your body, it plays a key role throughout your body. L-carnitine is made in your liver and kidneys from amino acids and is stored primarily in your muscles, heart and brain.
About 98% of the L-carnitine in your body is found in your muscles, including your heart muscle. Another form of L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine, is found throughout your central nervous system. This form is considered the best for supporting your brain. Combining these two superior forms of L-carnitine offers many complementary benefits.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine moves fat molecules across the mitochondrial membrane like other forms of L-carnitine. However, the acetyl group attached to the carnitine molecule allows it to cross your blood-brain barrier, enter your brain and provide additional energy directly to brain cells.
This unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and provide energy to the cells enhances acetyl-L-carnitine’s ability to support healthy cellular aging in your brain. Like L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine also acts as a powerful antioxidant to help protect mitochondria against oxidative damage.
