An Overview of Carnitine

Carnitine is a natural component of mammalian tissue and possesses multiple physiological roles. In relation to physical exercise, these include, but are not limited to, providing antioxidant protection, increasing nitric oxide production and/or maintaining circulating nitric oxide, and working to enhance energy production (e.g., fatty acid oxidation). These outcomes may be directly or indirectly related to improved exercise performance or recovery from strenuous exercise. While some studies have noted favorable outcomes with regards to exercise performance or related measures (e.g., reduction in muscle damage or soreness) following carnitine supplementation, others have failed to demonstrate an ergogenic effect, in particular when carnitine is used by healthy, exercise-trained subjects. The type and dosage of carnitine used varies considerably across studies, and few direct comparisons have been made between carnitine forms. This chapter provides a brief overview of the work in this area. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved