Great product for cardiac health
This is the best form of carnitine according to Dr Sinatra. I take this for severe Myalgic Enephalomyelitis. I'm housebound and 95% bedbound, though my illness is now slowly improving. It really helps my heart problems at a dose of around 2.5 grams a day. It has improved the time I can stay upright hugely; from 20 minutes a day to 40 or so. Ubiquinol gave me another 10 too. Dr Sinatra explains that ubiquinol/CoQ10 works synergistically with carnitine, as does ribose and magnesium. He calls them the 'awesome foursome' of cardiac health. The name carnitine is derived form the latin `camus' for flesh as carnitine was first isolated form meat sources. Nutritionist Robert Crayhon, author of The Carnitine Miracle, explains that strictly speaking, carnitine is not an amino acid and that carnitine does not in fact contain the amino group (NH2). He explains that carnitine is a coenzyme, a water-soluble vitamin-like compound. And that carnitine is similar to choline, one of the B vitamins-and, like various B vitamins, carnitine helps us turn food into energy. More specifically, it is essential for the burning of long-chain fatty acids. The heart depends on adequate concentrations of carnitine for normal heart function. * The primary role of carnitine is to help transport fatty acids into the energy producing units in the cells - the mitochondria, where they can be converted to energy. This is a major source of energy for the muscles, including those of the heart. Carnitine increases the use of fat as an energy source. * Carnitine is useful in clearing the bloodstream of ammonia and aids in creating glycogen, used to store essential glucose. Carnitine transports waste products out of the mitochondria, thus ensuring that toxic metabolic waste products do not accumulate. Carnitine reduces the accumulation of lactic acid, which is responsible for the burn felt inside the muscles with exercise. * Carnitine can help to prevent muscle atrophy. * Carnitine protects the heart from damage when a heart attack or a spasm cuts off the oxygen supply. Recent research has shown that carnitine can aid in recovery after a heart attack. Michael Murray N.D., author of `The Pill Book: Guide to Natural Medicines' writes, `Subjects taking carnitine showed significant improvements in heart rate, blood pressure, Angina attacks, rhythm disturbances, and clinical signs of impaired heart function compared to the subjects taking placebo.' * Low thyroid function may indicate a need for carnitine to help overcome low energy levels and the tendency to gain weight. * Carnitine can improve insulin sensitivity in those with type 2 diabetes. * Kidney dialysis rinses away amino acids, causing weak, tired condition, which is threatened by high triglycerides. Carnitin supplements may be advisable in such situations. * At doses of 1 - 3 g carnitine reduces blood triglycerides. (As the LEF website explains, `Carnitine combines with enzymes found in the mitochondrial membrane to transport fatty acids into the interior of the mitochondria, where they are oxidized to provide fuel for the generation of energy. In the absence of carnitine, fatty acids are not oxidized, but, instead, are transformed into dangerous triglycerides.') * Carnitine is an antioxidant and enhances the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamins C and E. Carnitine is synergistic with pantethine (vitamin B5). Carnitine is manufactured by the body if sufficient amounts of iron, vitamin B1, vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B6, lysine, and methionine are available. Food sources of carntine include meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products are the richest sources of L-carnitine. Grains, fruits, and vegetables contain little or no carnitine. Robert Crayhon points out that due to high consumption of red meat, the Stone Age hunter probably got at least 500 mg of carnitine a day, and possibly as much as 2 grams. Today the average carnitine intake is estimated at a mere 30 to 50 mg a day. Strict vegetarians consume practically no carnitine. L carnitine is generally not well absorbed, and is best absorbed on an empty stomach. There are several different forms of carnitine; * L carnitine fumarate is absorbed at a slightly higher rate than pure L carnitine and L carnitine tartrate. It is stable enough to be available in capsule form. L carnitine fumarate has a double effect as the fumarate is a free radical scavenger and also plays a part in the krebs energy cycle. * Pure L carnitine draws moisture and so is not suitable for use in capsules and tablets. It is commonly used in liquid carnitine products and pure carnitine powders. It has a very mild taste when mixed with water and is a good choice of carnitine. * For Angina and other cardiovascular applications, a new form of carnitine known as L-propionylcarnitine appears to be the most effective form of carnitine, although it may also be the most expensive and difficult to source. (Look for products labelled Glycocarn.) * L carnitine tartrate is an adequate form of L carnitine. When mixed with water it has an unpleasant tart taste. L carnitine is thought to be one of the safest nutritional supplements on earth, according to Dr Sinatra. This supplement is really essential if you have serious heart problems, in my opinion. Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E
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