A favorite of bodybuilders and gym rats everywhere, L-Carnitine is an amino acid naturally produced in the body with antioxidant activity that helps optimize recovery, powers muscular contractions and plays a role in cellular energy.** As it turns out, these sports nutrition benefits may also help your hardest-working muscle: the heart.**
Here’s the first clue: approximately 98% of the body’s L-Carnitine stores are located in the muscles and in cardiac tissue – at a concentration of 70X more than what is in your blood.
In the heart’s cardiac tissue, L-Carnitine hangs out in the cells’ mitochondria (power plants) to do what it does best: Promote energy production.** Specifically, L-Carnitine shuttles fatty acids into heart cells’ mitochondria, where they can be used as fuel to generate energy.** This is critically important because sub-optimal heart function can be linked with energy deficits.1 An energized heart is a healthy heart, and L-Carnitine seems to help you get there.**
L-Carnitine’s antioxidant activity is a bonus for cardiovascular health. The heart is the site of high oxidative stress. L-Carnitine’s presence in the heart may help fight the damaging effects of destructive free radicals.**
Intriguingly, L-Carnitine supplements may also help to promote exercise efforts in those needing extra heart support.** This important nutritional benefit might just assist those who are actively trying to promote their heart health with cardio fitness programs.**
L-Carnitine: It’s not just for Gym Rats anymore. Listen to your heart, it’s saying: “I do limitless ‘reps’ every day, is there any workout more high-intensity than mine? Gimme some L-Carnitine supplements and let’s hit the gym to pump up our cardiovascular health!”