L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid, found in high levels in skeletal and cardiac muscles of all mammals, but in very low levels in cereal grains and plants.

L-Carnitine is available either from the diet (if animals are carnivores such as greyhounds, which eat meat, or in humans eating meat and dairy products), or from very limited biosynthesis in the liver of horses (as plant materials are very low in available L-Carnitine). Typically, horses are unable to synthesise sufficient L-Carnitine for their normal requirements when training and racing. L-Carnitine is synthesised from the amino acids L-lysine and L-methionine. Supplementation of athletic animals and humans is recommended.

L-Carnitine is classed as a “conditionally essential” nutrient in humans, and is routinely used in supplementation of patients on drip nutrition, as well as those with liver, heart, kidney and muscle disease. Importantly, L-carnitine is also routinely used in the nutrition of newly born babies.

L-Carnitine is now available in a wide range of human diet and weight loss products.

L-Carnitine is very well researched in human and animal performance, and is known as an “ergogenic aid” – a natural product which enhances performance.