Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Carnipure® brand?

The Carnipure® brand is a special grade of L-Carnitine by Lonza.

What is L-Carnitine?

L-Carnitine is a natural nutrient that plays an essential role in the body’s energy metabolism. It used to be known as vitamin BT. L-Carnitine transports fatty acids into the “furnaces” of the cell.

Only here can energy be generated from the fatty acids. Without L-Carnitine these fatty acids cannot get to the place of energy generation. L-Carnitine is important in supplying energy to many organs in the body, such as the heart, muscles, liver and immune cells.

L-Carnitine plays an essential role in the body for:

  • producing energy from fat
  • ensuring athletic endurance
  • promoting recovery after exercise
  • providing the heart and immune cells with energy
  • preventing early onset of fatigue during exercise.

Where does L-Carnitine occur in the human body?

Carnitine occurs naturally in the body, in total about 20-25 grams. Organs and cells with a high energy requirement such as the heart, muscles, immune cells, brain, nerves and sperm contain highest levels of L-Carnitine and cannot function properly without an adequate supply.

Our body is able to produce small quantities of L-Carnitine, if precursors (two essential amino acids, lysine and methionine) and cofactors (vitamins C, B3, B6 and iron) are readily available.

An inadequate supply of any of these nutrients restricts the body’s ability to produce L-Carnitine.

Where does L-Carnitine occur in our diet?

L-Carnitine is part of our daily diet. Red meat (e.g. lamb, venison and beef) is particularly rich in L-Carnitine. Fish, poultry, milk and breast milk contain smaller amounts, while foods of plant origin contain very little, if any, L-Carnitine. On average, we consume about 100-300 mg dietary L-Carnitine every day.

  • Venison, beef 100-220 mg/100g
  • Pork, rabbit 20-30 mg/100g
  • Poultry 6-30 mg/100g
  • Fish 6-20 mg/100g
  • Sausage 1-20 mg/100g
  • Dairy products 1-10 mg/100g
  • Mushrooms 1-5 mg/100g
  • Fruit and vegetables 0-1 mg/100g

For more information please check out the Carnitine calculator!

Who should take Carnipure® supplementation?

Supplementary Carnipure® ingredient helps to maintain health in periods of stress and to optimize the quality of life.

Due to the important, fundamental function of L-Carnitine in energy metabolism it is not surprising that many people can benefit in many ways from taking the Carnipure® ingredient:

  • Athletes engaged in endurance or strength training as well as hobby athletes
  • People following weight management programs
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • Elderly people
  • Vegetarians and people who eat very little meat
  • People who want to maintain and improve their health

What benefits does Carnipure® supplementation offer to athletes?

Increasing scientific evidence illustrates the favourable effects of Carnipure® L-Carnitine for athletes and active people with regard to optimizing performance, delaying the onset of fatigue and improving the recovery process.

Researchers observed a decrease in the production of free radicals, less tissue damage and reduced muscle soreness after exercise in athletes following Carnipure® supplementation.

L-Carnitine also promotes fat burning, reduces the breakdown of amino acids and promotes protein synthesis and the formation of lean muscle mass.

L-Carnitine is like an inward training program. It promotes a lasting increase in the enjoyment of physical activity and facilitates the transition to phases of higher-intensity activity.

Is Carnipure® supplementation considered as a doping agent?

Carnipure® ingredient is not a doping agent and is not included in any national or international doping list.

It is a natural nutrient found in both food and the human body that helps athletes meet the increased performance demands placed upon them. L-Carnitine has been used by top athletes since the 1980 Olympic Games and still is used.

Can Carnipure® supplementation help with weight loss?

L-Carnitine can make an important contribution to controlling body weight in the long term as part of weight management program.

However, taking L-Carnitine alone will not lead to weight reduction. Studies show that a combination of L-Carnitine supplementation and reduced calorie intake – preferably coupled with physical activity – can lead to a healthier body weight.

It has also been shown that:

L-Carnitine accelerates the burning of dietary fats: if L-Carnitine is consumed at the same time as fats, the fats are burned faster, and less fat is stored in the body tissue. L-Carnitine can also have a positive effect on blood lipid levels.

In addition, it has been shown in animals that L-Carnitine reduces the sensation of hunger and facilitates a reduction in food intake.

What role does Carnipure® supplementation play for the heart?

The heart is our most important muscle, putting in an uninterrupted high performance. It obtains about 70% of its energy from fatty acids.

This is why the heart also contains a high level of L-Carnitine – the uninterrupted transfer of fatty acids into the mitochondria is particularly vital in this organ. Since the heart cannot produce L-Carnitine, it is dependent on an adequate supply from the blood stream.

This makes L-Carnitine an important nutrient for providing the heart with energy. A large number of studies have documented the beneficial effect of L-Carnitine on diseases of the heart muscle, fat deposition in the heart and cardiac arrhythmias.

Accordingly, L-Carnitine can be used to help maintain a healthy heart but cannot, under any circumstances, replace medical therapy.

Can Carnipure® supplementation be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding? 

The body’s L-Carnitine requirements rise sharply during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and this requirement cannot easily be met by the diet.

A large decrease in the concentration of L-Carnitine in the body is seen as early as the 12th week of pregnancy.

Dietary supplements to increase the intake of L-Carnitine can therefore be very useful during pregnancy.

Why is it difficult for elderly people to get sufficient L-Carnitine? 

The body’s ability to produce L-Carnitine decreases with age. In addition, elderly people often reduce their meat intake for several reasons, which leads to a reduced dietary intake of L-Carnitine.

Moreover, fat metabolism is slower in old age. Elderly people lose more protein from their muscles, and consequently lose valuable muscle mass. At the same time, more fat is deposited, and this puts an additional burden on the body.

L-Carnitine can help to get the fat metabolism going again and to burn more fat. This is why L-Carnitine is an important nutrient for elderly people, helping to maintain their health, vitality and strength.

Can vegetarians develop L-Carnitine deficiency? 

A vegetarian diet is very low in L-Carnitine but also in the precursors to produce L-Carnitine in the body.

It has been shown that vegetarians have lower levels of L-Carnitine in their blood. Reduced performance and rapid exhaustion of the muscles can be signs of low L-Carnitine levels.

Carnipure® L-Carnitine is obtained by chemical synthesis; it is not extracted from meat and is therefore eminently suitable for vegetarians.

How should I take Carnipure® supplementation?

Carnipure® L-Carnitine, like vitamins, should be taken in the morning, at lunchtime or in the early afternoon.

It is not advisable to take Carnipure® L-Carnitine in the evening or before going to bed because higher doses can make people more active and increase wakefulness.

Carnipure® L-Carnitine should be taken in doses no larger than 500-1000 mg either during or after a meal.

Carnipure® L-Carnitine is a water-soluble nutrient and, like water-soluble vitamins, excessive quantities are eliminated via the kidneys.

Does Carnipure® supplementation have side effects? 

L-Carnitine occurs naturally in our body and our diet.

It is a safe substance and can be taken on a long-term basis for months or even years without side effects.

The European Food Safety Authority has made a safety evaluation on Carnipure® L-Carnitine and came to the conclusion that up to 2 g supplementary L-Carnitine per day are safe for daily human consumption.