Biologically, this essential amino acid serves as a fat shuttle that moves long chain fatty acids into the “furnace” of the cell, the mitochondrion. This means that when you take a supplement of L-Carnitine, that you will be able to burn fat quicker.  Fat provides a valuable source of energy for muscles, including the hardest working muscle in the body, the heart. 

When it comes time for the body to burn off stored body fat, the L-Carnitine speeds up the process by optimizing the transfer of the stored fat to energy sites in the muscles.

Supplemental - either in capsule, liquid, or powder form - L-Carnitine ensures that you are receiving optimum levels of this amino acid for the best fat-burning effect in the body. The typical dosage for L-Carnitine is 500-200mg per day, usually taken on an empty stomach or just before exercise.

While L-Carnitine does work best when combined with exercise, it does also provide significant fat-burning effects for those who are modifying their diets.  It is possible to ingest L-Carnitine from foods in the diet, especially meat.  However, the drawback with meat is that while it does contain high levels of Carnitine, it also contains bad fats that promote heart disease and weight gain.

This is the reason why most practitioners who recommend L-Carnitine recommend that their clients  use a supplemental form instead of attempting to ingest enough merely from food.

Other Health Benefits
Carnitine prevents fatty build up in the vessels, liver and muscles.  It decreases cholesterol levels, supports weight loss, increases sperm motility and improves muscle strength.  It is an anti-aging nutrient because it makes the antioxidants vitamins C and E work more effectively.  L-carnitine is sometimes added to infant formulas to enhance energy production and stimulate growth.  L-carnitine is recommended by natural health practitioners for heart disease, heart failure, high cholesterol, improved athletic performance, weight loss and male infertility.

ALC:  Acetly-L-Carnitine - Anti-aging and Brain Health
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a derivative of carnitine that is produced by the body.   It is used for protein and carbohydrate metabolism, in addition to its role in fat transportation.  Acetyl-L-carnitine is well studied for its anti-aging effects.  Daily supplementation slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by improving memory, attention, language and spatial abilities.  Other health benefits of acetyl-L-carnitine are improved immune functioning, protection of the nerves and improved circulation.

How to Take Carnitine and ALC
The biologically active form of carnitine is L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine.  It is commonly found as a powder or in capsules. It may be found in formulas for heart health.  It is used with coenzyme Q10 for supporting the heart.  Because of their greater muscle mass, men require more carnitine than women.  Vegetarians also tend to lack carnitine because food sources are animal based.  Take amino acid supplements at least 1/2 hour before or after a meal to maximize their absorption.  If you take an individual amino acid supplement for longer than one month, take it with an amino acid complex to prevent the deficiency of other amino acids.