{"id":338,"date":"2013-04-29T08:51:15","date_gmt":"2013-04-29T15:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/?p=338"},"modified":"2016-05-17T12:44:29","modified_gmt":"2016-05-17T19:44:29","slug":"carnitine-supplements-good-or-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/2013\/04\/29\/carnitine-supplements-good-or-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnitine Supplements: Good or Bad for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dietary-supplements\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You may have seen media reports about a scientific study suggesting that carnitine could be linked to heart disease. Carnitine \u2013 found naturally in red meat, poultry, and fish \u2013 is an amino acid. \u00a0Unlike most amino acids, it\u00a0is not used in the body to make proteins. Instead, it\u00a0is used to transport fat inside a cell to allow\u00a0fat burning and energy metabolism.<\/p>\n

Should you be concerned about your carnitine intake? Read on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The study<\/a> found that high plasma levels of carnitine in human subjects are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, when they used a mouse model, increasing dietary carnitine seemed to promote atherosclerosis, one of the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

The authors of the study found carnitine isn’t the bad guy here, at least not directly. Gut bacteria can convert it\u00a0into a substance called trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which is\u00a0absorbed into the body. The level of TMAO seems to be what is causing the increased risk for heart disease. In a related study<\/a>, the same authors reported that lecithin and choline, two nutrients abundant in meat and egg yolk, also can give rise to TMAO in the body after conversion by intestinal bacteria.<\/p>\n

\n \"Carnitine<\/a>\n
Carnitine Structure<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n

Both studies were published in prestigious scientific journals, and the principal investigator and senior author,\u00a0Dr. Stanley Hazen, is a highly respected, first-rate scientist.<\/p>\n

Yet my reaction to the study is that it is intriguing and novel but far from definitive. To call carnitine a culprit in heart disease in humans, as the press labeled it, is premature<\/a>. I still believe the main culprit in red meat for causing atherosclerosis and increasing cardiovascular risk is high levels of saturated fat, and not carnitine, lecithin, and choline.<\/p>\n

I have some doubt about the link between TMAO and atherosclerosis, because other studies have shown that foods high in TMAO are\u00a0associated with a healthy diet.\u00a0A\u00a0British study<\/a>\u00a0found that the consumption of 8 oz. of marine fish, such as cod, haddock, halibut, or herring, elevated urinary levels of TMAO and its precursor, trimethylamine, on average about 35 times, whereas eating 8 oz. of beef, other meats, or dairy products such as cheese, eggs and milk had no effect on the background levels of these compounds! And we know that the consumption of fish is associated with a lower<\/i> risk for heart disease.<\/p>\n

\"Fish<\/a>Another\u00a0paper published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings \u2013<\/em><\/a>\u00a0a metaanalysis of 13 previous studies looking at the effect of carnitine supplements immediately after a heart attack \u2013 found that patients who received carnitine instead of placebo had a significant reduction in all-cause mortality, abnormalities in heart function, or\u00a0angina.<\/p>\n

A large body of work, accumulated over decades, indicates that one form of carnitine called acetyl-L-carnitine<\/a> is safe to use at appropriate doses. Acetyl-L-carnitine has\u00a0been given clinically at very high doses \u2013 as much as 8 grams per day \u2013 with no observed side effects. Furthermore, we know from studies in rodents that it\u00a0improves mitochondrial function, lowers lipid levels (which would lower<\/i> cardiovascular risk), and improves muscle and brain function.<\/p>\n

Therefore, based on current evidence, carnitine appears to have significant health benefits, and the balance \u2013 or \u201cbenefit-to-risk ratio\u201d\u2013 favors the use of these\u00a0supplements. <\/b><\/p>\n

Personally,\u00a0I will continue to take a daily supplement containing 1,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine. In addition, I exercise regularly, eat a heart-healthy diet, and avoid red meat.<\/p>\n

As a resource of trusted nutrition information for the public,\u00a0we at the Linus Pauling Institute continually reassess our recommendations, based on new scientific information. We will let you know if we find compelling\u00a0evidence against<\/i> carnitine supplementation.<\/p>\n

In addition to our Research Newsletter<\/a> and Micronutrient Information Center (MIC)<\/a>, we are enhancing our communication efforts, such as with this new blog, to help you make informed personal decisions towards achieving optimum health.<\/p>\n

\"BalzThumbnail\"To your health!<\/p>\n

Balz Frei, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

Director and Endowed Chair, Linus Pauling Institute<\/p>\n

Joan H. Facey Linus Pauling Institute Professor<\/p>\n

Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You may have seen media reports about a scientific study suggesting that carnitine could be linked to heart disease. Carnitine \u2013 found naturally in red meat, poultry, and fish \u2013 is an amino acid. \u00a0Unlike most amino acids, it\u00a0is not used in the body to make proteins. Instead, it\u00a0is used to transport fat inside a… Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4939,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[582787,582791,582795],"tags":[646503,582831,149,123729],"class_list":["post-338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ask-the-expert","category-lpi-take","category-supplement-faqs","tag-balz-frei","tag-carnitine","tag-meat","tag-supplements"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":494,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/2013\/05\/28\/health-supplement-regimen\/","url_meta":{"origin":338,"position":0},"title":"Balz Frei, Ph.D., on his Personal Health and Supplement Regimen","author":"Jana Z","date":"May 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Eating a healthful diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding tobacco are of utmost importance to maintain good health. I also think that some dietary supplements are critical for optimum health.\" - Balz Frei, Ph.D. ____ Which nutritional supplements does the former director of the Linus Pauling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask the Expert"","block_context":{"text":"Ask the Expert","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/category\/ask-the-expert\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Balz Frei-running","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/files\/2013\/05\/FreiB-runningSmallWeb-300x199.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1898,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/2017\/01\/31\/choosing-supplements-wisely\/","url_meta":{"origin":338,"position":1},"title":"Q: I’ve been reading a lot lately about claims that vitamins in pill form are worthless and unreliable. Do you have a recommendation for where to buy worthy vitamin pills?","author":"Anne Glausser","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Answer:\u00a0We don't make endorsements, but we can offer advice for choosing supplements wisely. It\u2019s important to remember that supplements are not always necessary and they are not regulated as rigorously as drugs, so it is largely up to consumers to determine a product\u2019s appropriateness, safety and potency. Below we offer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Supplement FAQs"","block_context":{"text":"Supplement FAQs","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/category\/supplement-faqs\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"supplement bottle","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/files\/2017\/01\/vitamins-26622_1280-150x150.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":970,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/2015\/09\/04\/fish-oil-good-health\/","url_meta":{"origin":338,"position":2},"title":"Fish oil: Good for my health… or not?","author":"Giana Angelo","date":"September 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Stories from various news outlets (and even from different researchers at Oregon State University) have said: Fish oil\/omega-3s are great! Excess omega-3s are really bad! Fish oil\/omega-3s are great\u00a0(again)!! Never mind,\u00a0fish oil doesn\u2019t work... This is confusing and frustrating for all of us. As is the case with most headlines,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "LPI Take"","block_context":{"text":"LPI Take","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/category\/lpi-take\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fish oil - a source of omega-3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/files\/2014\/04\/oil-315528_1280-800x529.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1053,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/linuspaulinginstitute\/2014\/07\/03\/following-evidence-multivitamins-revisited\/","url_meta":{"origin":338,"position":3},"title":"Following the Evidence: Multivitamins Revisited","author":"Alexander Michels, PhD","date":"July 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Are\u00a0multivitamin supplements useless? Does\u00a0the science all point to these pills\u00a0being\u00a0a complete waste of money and time? This is simply not true, and you should know why. 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