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Abstract
L-Carnitine is a trimethylated amino acid, roughly similar in structure to choline, L-carnitine is a cofactor required for transformation of free long-chain fatty acids into acylcarnitines, and for their subsequent transport into the mitochondrial matrix, where they undergo beta-oxidation for cellular energy production. Conditions that appear to benefit from exogenous supplementation of L-carnitine include anorexia, chronic fatigue, cardiovascular disease, diphtheria, hypoglycemia, male infertility, muscular myopathies, and Rett syndrome. Preterm infants, dialysis patients, and HIV-positive individuals seem to be prone to a deficiency of L-carnitine and benefit from supplementation.Although discovered in 1905, the crucial role of L-carnitine in metabolism was not elucidated until 1955, and its deficiency was not described until 1972. The most significant source of L-carnitine in human nutrition is meat, although humans can synthesize L-carnitine from dietary amino acidsThis review discusses the role of l-carnitine in Clinical IndicationsSuch as Anorexia,Athletic Performance in Cardiovascular Diseases such as Angina and Ischemia,PeripheralVascularDisease,CardiogenicShock,Cardiomyopathy,MyocardialInfarction,Hyperlipidemia,Diabetes/Insulin Resistance,Cancer, & in Hepatic Effects such as Fatty Liver,Hepatitis, Hepatic Encephalopathy from Cirrhosis,HIV and Immunity, Hyperthyroidism,Male Infertility, Renal Failure/Dialysis, Weight Loss,Respiratory Distress in Premature Infants