Dr. Henry Cheng & Christine Cheng, B.Sc.(Pharm)
A recent scheduling amendment from Health Canada has lifted a long time ban on the non-prescription sale of L-Carnitine supplements, so it is appropriate for us to write a brief account on this potentially very useful supplement. L-Carnitine is a biochemical substance naturally synthesised by the brain, liver and kidneys and stored in the heart, skeletal muscles, the brain, and sperm. The main food sources of L-Carnitine are red meats especially lamb, and dairy products. It is also found in small quantities in legumes, asparagus, avocado, nuts, fish, poultry, wheat, and grains. L-Carnitine is required for the breakdown of fats in the mitochondria for the generation of energy. It is also an anti-oxidant specific for the protection of the phospholipid membranes of cells. Usually, our bodies can make all the L-carnitine our bodies need. As we age however, our ability to synthesize L-Carnitine diminishes. Some people, for one reason or another, fail to make enough to meet their body’s needs. When the carnitine-making organs are diseased as in kidney or liver failure, the body’s ability to synthesize l-Carnitine is diminished. Also, the need for L-Carnitine may increase dramatically in certain medical conditions, notably angina and after myocardial infarction (heart attack). Supplementation becomes necessary when one of the above situations happens. There has been promising evidence showing that L-Carnitine can be used in heart conditions including angina, post-heart attack convalescence, and heart failure to complement the benefits of prescription drugs. A controlled trial has shown that L-Carnitine was effective in improving sperm quality and sperm count. Hence it may be beneficial in male infertility. One study found that L-Carnitine improved the effectiveness of sidenafil (Viagra) in men with diabetes who had not previously responded to Viagra. In another study, L-Carnitine improved the effectiveness of Viagra in men who had erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery.
L-Carnitine enhances cellular metabolism hence it is extensively used for performance sports, body building, and chronic fatigue. Regular supplementation with acetyl-L-Carnitine was shown to contribute to improved brain function in the brains of seniors by enhancing production of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Hence acetyl-L-Carnitine may benefit patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy. There is no evidence that L-Carnitine use leads to weight loss directly, but since L-Carnitine is essential for efficient fat burning, it only make sense to put it in a weight control program. L-Carnitine is also believed to protect heart muscles from the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Patients taking the acne medication Isotretinoin (Accutane) or the anti-seizure drug Valproic Acid (Depakene) sometimes develop muscle pain and weakness exactly like in L-Carnitine deficiency and studies have shown that supplementation of L-Carnitine has helped in such cases. L-Carnitine is not recommended for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Dosage depends on the condition being treated, usually from 1 to 3 grams per day. Most of the conditions in which L-Carnitine is indicated are serious conditions hence its use must be integrated with orthodox medical management. L-Carnitine may stop thyroid hormone from getting into cells, and theoretically may make thyroid hormone replacement less effective. If you take thyroid replacement hormone, talk to your health care provider before taking L-Carnitine.
Henry Cheng is a medical graduate of the University of London, England and Christine Cheng is a registered pharmacist at Pharmasave Downtown Cloverdale. Their family operated drugstore specializes in natural medicine and compounding. Contact them HERE.
