How a vitamin-like supplement can help burn fat
Skeletal muscle carnitine loading increases energy expenditure, modulates fuel metabolism gene networks and prevents body fat accumulation in humans
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Muscle carnitine increased by 20%, leading to a 200% rise in long-chain acyl-CoA—a sign of boosted fat transport into mitochondria—without changing exercise intensity.
It was previously thought that only exercise or fasting could significantly increase fat oxidation. Here, a supplement combo did it at rest and during light activity.
Practical Takeaways
Consider L-carnitine supplementation with a carb source post-workout to potentially enhance fat metabolism and nutrient partitioning.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Muscle carnitine increased by 20%, leading to a 200% rise in long-chain acyl-CoA—a sign of boosted fat transport into mitochondria—without changing exercise intensity.
It was previously thought that only exercise or fasting could significantly increase fat oxidation. Here, a supplement combo did it at rest and during light activity.
Practical Takeaways
Consider L-carnitine supplementation with a carb source post-workout to potentially enhance fat metabolism and nutrient partitioning.
Publication
Journal
The Journal of Physiology
Year
2013
Authors
F. Stephens, B. Wall, K. Marimuthu, C. Shannon, D. Constantin-Teodosiu, I. MacDonald, P. Greenhaff
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Claims (6)
If young, healthy guys boost their muscle carnitine by 20% with supplements, their muscles might be moving fat into energy factories way more—like four times more at rest.
Taking L-carnitine with carbs for 12 weeks might turn up the activity of 73 genes that help the body burn fuel better — especially those involved in how insulin works and how fats are used — in healthy young guys, compared to just taking carbs.
When you do light, steady exercise like walking, your body burns more fat compared to carbs than when you're going harder, like running.
If healthy young guys take a certain amount of L-carnitine with carbs every day for 12 weeks, they might store more carnitine in their muscles, burn more energy during light exercise, and avoid gaining fat compared to just taking carbs.
If healthy young guys take L-carnitine and carbs for 12 weeks, they might burn 6% more energy during light workouts — mostly by burning more fat, not carbs.