L-Carnitine Supplementation in Recreational Athletes
June 7/Basel, Switzerland/Press Release -- A new study shows that long-term L-Carnitine supplementation in the form of Carnipure™ tartrate manufactured by Lonza coupled with the intake of carbohydrates increases muscular L-Carnitine content in recreational athletes. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted by the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Medical School in England and published in the <em>Journal of Physiology</em> (589.4 (2011) pp 963-973).</p>
This is the first study in healthy humans showing that muscle L-Carnitine content can be influenced by dietary means and that L-Carnitine plays a dual role in skeletal muscle fuel metabolism during exercise that is dependent on exercise intensity,” comments Professor Paul Greenhaff, lead author of the study. During low intensity exercise increasing muscle L-Carnitine content led to glycogen sparing and increased fatty acid oxidation. In high intensity exercise it led to a decrease in anaerobic energy production, including a decrease in muscle lactate accumulation. Furthermore, during a performance test, L-Carnitine supplementation resulted in lower perceived exertion as well as increased work output. This novel technology is protected by a patent application WO/2004/082674 owned by the University of Nottingham.</p>
Previous studies show that Carnipure™ tartrate supplementation can increase fatty acid oxidation in a non-athletic population. The current study is the first to show the same effect in recreational athletes. These findings together with previous findings demonstrate that Carnipure™ supplementation may lead to a decrease in the production of free radicals, less tissue damage and reduced muscle soreness after exercise. Carnipure™ supplementation can play an important role for sports nutrition supporting both exercise performance as well as the subsequent recovery process.</p>
L-Carnitine, a nutrient produced in the body and found in dietary sources, plays a critical role in fat and energy metabolism. It shuttles long-chain fatty acids into the cells’ mitochondria where they are broken down for energy generation, as well as maintaining muscle carbohydrate oxidation and offsetting lactate production during intense exercise. Extensive research shows that supplementary Carnipure™ may play a supportive role in many areas of health, including cardiovascular health, weight management and healthy aging. Carnipure™ is easily integrated into dietary supplements and functional foods and beverages.
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