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27.03.2012

L-Carnitine helps centenarians build muscle mass

A daily dose of 2 g L-carnitine does wonders for body composition and vitality in people who've already celebrated their hundredth birthday. Italian gerontologists at the University of Catania discovered that L-carnitine helps this part of the population to build muscle mass, reduce fat mass, and have more energy and stamina.

L-Carnitine
If you look at what textbooks say about L-carnitine, then it's almost bound to work. The substance helps the mitochondria to convert more nutrients such as fatty acids into energy. More L-carnitine, more fat burning and probably also more muscle mass - that's the reasoning used by the supplements industry.

When researchers started to examine the effects of L-carnitine in the nineties, however, the results were disappointing. This may be because the bodies of young adults produce copious quantities of L-carnitine, and certainly in those who are physically active. Another possibility is that the body only absorbs L-carnitine if you consume the compound together with large amounts of carbohydrates. Cells only absorb L-carnitine if the blood has a high insulin level.

As ageing progresses L-carnitine production declines. Once people reach their seventies the concentration declines rapidly, but decline in production starts much earlier.

Study
The over-seventies are therefore ideal subjects for L-carnitine experiments, the researchers reasoned. And even better than people in their seventies – are centenarians. So the Italians gave 32 centenarians a daily dose of 2 g L-carnitine for six months. They also gave 34 centenarians a placebo for the same period. By the way, the L-carnitine they used was produced by Sigma Tau.

Results
L-Carnitine caused an average increase in muscle mass of just less than four kg, whereas the muscle mass in the placebo group increased by just under a kilogram. The fat mass in the L-carnitine group went down by just under two kilograms, while the fat mass in the placebo group increased by half a kilogram.

The condition of the subjects in the L-carnitine group improved: this was tested by getting the subjects to walk for six minutes and measuring the distance they covered. The carnitine group managed to walk four metres further. (Yes, we know, it's not a lot. But the test subjects did not take regular exercise.)

The subjects in the L-carnitine group felt better and more energetic. And they also scored better on a mental test.

Longevity
Three people in the L-carnitine group died. In the placebo group the figure was five. So maybe L-carnitine is a longevity supplement as well?

Source:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;86(6):1738-44.

More:
L-Carnitine plus carbohydrates helps endurance athletes 14.10.2011
L-Carnitine-L-Tartrate restores muscles after training 24.09.2010
Fat burner carnitine needs carbohydrates 06.05.2009