What's L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is a type of B vitamin, and its structure is like an amino acid, so some people classify it as an amino acid. Its main role is to help transport long-chain fatty acids to provide energy. This prevents fat accumulation in the heart, liver and skeletal muscles. Synthetic carnitine is available in three forms: L-carnitine, D-carnitine and racemate. L-carnitine is more effective. L-carnitine is a compound with multiple physiologically active functions. Its main function is to promote beta-oxidation of fatty acids; it can also regulate the acyl ratio in mitochondria and affect energy metabolism; L-carnitine can participate in the transportation of branched-chain amino acid metabolites , thereby promoting the normal metabolism of branched-chain amino acids. In addition, L-carnitine plays a role in the elimination and utilization of ketone bodies. It can be used as a biological antioxidant to scavenge free radicals, maintain the stability of membranes, improve the immunity of animals, and their ability to resist disease and stress.
Application:
As a new type of nutritional fortifier, L-carnitine is currently widely used in functional foods, especially as an additive in infant formula foods, athlete foods, and weight loss and bodybuilding foods. L-carnitine as a commercial product is mainly its hydrochloride, tartrate and magnesium citrate salts.
1. Application of L-carnitine in infant formula foods L-carnitine plays an important role in the metabolic process of infants using fat as an energy source. Since the biosynthetic ability of L-carnitine in infants is weak and cannot meet their normal metabolic needs, Therefore, exogenous L-carnitine must be ingested to ensure that the fat in the body is in an optimal oxidation state and to provide enough energy to maintain the baby's normal body temperature. In addition, L-carnitine also has certain promoting effects on the growth and development of infants and young children, and improves metabolic balance. Therefore, it is necessary to fortify infant and young child foods with L-carnitine, especially soy-based infant formula foods, because the content of L-carnitine in soybeans is very low. my country's L-carnitine limit for infant formula is 70 to 90 mg/kg. Currently, L-carnitine-fortified infant formula is on the market in my country.
2. Application in athletes’ food According to DecombazJ. et al., the concentration of free carnitine in human muscle tissue will decrease by 20% after strenuous exercise. It is believed that supplementing carnitine can improve the body’s fatigue, because L-carnitine can promote Oxidation of fat in the body provides sufficient energy for the body, which is conducive to improving exercise endurance and explosive power. If octacosanol and L-carnitine are used together, they will have a synergistic effect on enhancing physical strength, which is manifested in the relaxation of the whole body muscles, the improvement of explosive power and endurance, the increase of basal metabolic rate, and the improvement of the nutritional status of the myocardium. A common method is to add L-carnitine to athletes' drinks for fortification.
3. Application in weight loss and bodybuilding foods As early as the 1970s, there were patent reports on the use of DL-carnitine to prevent and treat obesity. Later, DL-carnitine was replaced by L-carnitine due to findings of negative effects. Practice has proven that L-carnitine-fortified foods have a good effect on fat metabolism disorders caused by carnitine deficiency in the body, and can prevent obesity, fatty liver and other diseases caused by the accumulation of lipids in muscle fibers and liver. Kuang Tianyou believes that obese people who do not exercise enough accumulate a lot of fat in their bodies and have low carnitine biosynthetic capacity. Ingesting L-carnitine can effectively convert excess fat in the body into energy and release it, thus preventing and treating obesity. Therefore, lipid-lowering foods with L-carnitine as the main ingredient are very popular in the European market.
China
