Acetyl l-carnitine: Is it the Best Form of Carnitine for Weight Loss Purposes?

On October 10, 2011, in Acetyl carnitine, Acetyl L-carnitine, Health and Fitness, Weight Loss, by admin

Carnitine is currently one of the most sought-after supplements to aid in one’s weight loss purposes. These days, however, the market is being indundated by a flood of products that all claim to contain the “best” amount or the best form of carnitine (such as “is acetyl L-carnitine the best out there?”). As with most other things in life, not all carnitines are equal in efficacy, and some can even be detrimental to one’s health. So if you’re looking for the best L carnitine available in the market today, here are a few things you must know.

First off, carnitine is readily available in most types of food you eat. So most often, you do not need acetyl L-carnitine supplements to compliment your weight loss campaign. Just try to eat a well-balanced diet as much as possible—some red meat, beans, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, nuts, even soy-based dishes. If you maintain such a diet, there would be little to no need at all to take carnitine.

However, in the same way that we take multivitamin capsules or syrups, we sometimes need the benefits of popping an acetyl L-carnitine pill or two. This may happen in cases when we are unable to eat a balanced meal on a consistent basis. So although carnitine can be consumed by eating certain plants and animals, we may actually end up consuming very little amounts of it that could be detrimental in the long term.

There are certain research studies that seem to show that acetyl L-carnitine is one of the best, if not the best, form of carnitine. This is due to the supposed greater bioavailability of acetyl L-carnitine—it is more readily absorbed by the body to be used by the cells, especially for the proper functioning of the cell’s power plant called the mitochondria. Getter bioavailability also means it performs better in utilizing fatty acids (or simply “fat”) and converting such fats into energy. That is why taking acetyl L-carnitine supplements not only serves as a great compliment to your weight loss activities, it also allows you to endure more of the rigorous physical training—you stay longer on the treadmill, which in turn means you burn more fat.