An Exploration: Is Carnitine an Effective Ergogenic Aid or Not?

This essay examines the effectiveness of carnitine as an ergogenic aid, a substance used to enhance athletic performance. It begins by defining carnitine, its types (L-Carnitine and D-Carnitine), and its role in transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria for energy production. The essay then discusses ergogenic aids in general, highlighting controversies around carnitine's efficacy. While carnitine is often marketed as a fat burner, the essay points out the limited evidence supporting this claim and explores recent research into its potential for exercise recovery. It also addresses the importance of proper dosage and potential side effects, contrasting carnitine with other ergogenic aids like carbohydrates and electrolyte solutions. The essay concludes that carnitine, while safe at recommended doses, is largely ineffective as an ergogenic aid and can have adverse effects if misused.

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
Exploring if carnitine is an effective ergogenic aid
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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
Carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound that aids in the functioning of pivotal
metabolic activities in certain groups of animals most prominently in mammals, some bacteria,
and plants. Carnitine exists in two kinds of isomers which labeled L-Carnitine and D-Carnitine
(Higgins et al 2010, p. 842) and they are optically proofed to be active. At normal temperature,
carnitine is a white powder and partly soluble to water. This ammonium compound is derived
from amino acids which are a constituent component profoundly to all living organisms
especially vertebrates and animal muscle tissues (Burke 2005, p.98). Carnitine depicts as a
generic expression for a substantial number of amalgam that includes propionyl carnitine, and L-
Carnitine. Carnitine is accumulated profoundly in skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles of most
vertebrates and it is proven to account for approximately 0.2% of its dry matter.
The body of vertebrates demands a high level of energy production and its transportation
across all the organs and tissues to aid the body to function normally and carry out its metabolic
functions in order to continue thriving. To keep up with the demand for energy production, the
body synthesis enough ammonium compound (carnitine) from the lysine side chains (Kreideret
al 2010, p. 8). Then the carnitine acts transporting agent to supply long-chain fatty acid into the
mitochondria to be synthesized to energy. Also, some organisms with genetic disorders cannot
synthesize enough, therefore aggravating carnitine a conditionally pivotal compound for them.
Carnitine is concerned with transporting fatty acids across the membrane of
mitochondrion by forming acetylcarnitine ester and finally being transported by
palmitoyltransferase (McClung and Collins 2007, p. 281). Apart from being synthesized from
lysine derivative, carnitine can also be obtained from milk and meat. Carnitine plays an essential
for athletes (Molinero and Marquez 2009, p. 23).

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
According to "International Society of Sports and Nutrition" an ergogenic aid is any
nutritional practices, psychological or training technique, mechanical device or even
pharmacological agent that can boost in exercise performance capability and enhances physical
strength (Liddle et al 2013, p. 421). These commutatively help individuals to exercise, foster
exercise efficiency, recovery and adapt to the rigors of active training (Byrd et al 2012, p. 185).
In particular, ergogenic aid is any substance, nutrition, or training techniques that enhance energy
production and supply to body muscles, use of it, recovery and to gain athletes with a
competitive advantage.
There have been controversies whether carnitine is an effective ergogenic aid that will
provide a competitive advantage to the athletes (Rodenberg and Gustafson 2007, p. 255). For
instance, majority of athletes scramble to identify whether carnitine is an effective aid and if so
what are the recommended category of food rich in carnitine they should take or alternatively
what nutritional practices they should observe. Additionally, most athletes rely on hearsay as a
standard for determining whether an ergogenic aid is effective and save. In fact, they strive to try
nearly anything to produce that competitive advantage.
Moreover, some sources of carnitine are not effective for ergogenic aid while others are
to some extent effective for ergogenic aids. Most prominently, it will depend upon the activity
one is engaging and the kind of life one is leading since it may yield adversarial effects in the
long-run to the individual. Other examples of ergogenic aids may include caffeine, Chromium,
creatine, , branched-chain amino acids, blood doping, and steroids,(Buford et al 2007, p. 65).
Most importantly, carnitine is proved to be safe only at recommended doses; however, it is not
effective ergogenic aid. Carnitine is a kind of amino acid synthesized by the body to aid in

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
metabolizing food into energy. It is widely branded and marketed as a "fat burner" since it is
used in fat oxidation. Additionally, proponents assert that supplemental carnitine greatly
potentiates fat metabolism and enhances fat utilization which results in body fat loss (Inaz and
Matsumiya 2008, p. 115). Therefore, carnitine is commonly used in weight loss supplement
though it is not an effective ergogenic aid.
There is deviance of enough evidence supporting carnitine to be regarded as a "fat
burner" or performance stimulator. In fact, the recent research is exploring the safety and
effectiveness of carnitine as a supplement in exercise recovery. However, the preliminary results
that carnitine supplements may culminate in helping the athletes in enduring intense training to a
greater extent. The recommended amount of carnitine by nutritionists is approximately 2 to 5
grams of carnitine on daily basis. But if it exceeds this limit, it is rendered ineffective ergogenic
aid and therefore aggravating to side effects (Beck et al 2016, p. 75).
Moreover, milk and meat can be regarded as a source of carnitine besides being
synthesized from a lysine derivative (Burke et al 2009, p. 88).They are rich in protein and
branded as protein supplements which build muscles and increases strength hence regarded as an
ergogenic aid. Protein contains compound that contain a high biological value in the human body
which is equivalent to an egg protein. Studies assert that protein supplements foster muscle mass
and are more superior to soy protein and casein. Moreover, protein supplements are significant in
healthy athletes who do not exhibit kidney or liver diseases. However, taking more than 2.5
grams of body weight is unhealthy and thus rendering carnitine to be an ineffective ergogenic aid
(Liddleet al 2013, p. 234). Taking exceedingly supplements of proteins puts an individual at a
risk of dehydration, unconditional excretion of urinary calcium. Also, protein supplementation

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
meets dietary requirements, especially for the athletes. More essentially, protein supplements
yield pivotal amino acids to optimize synthesize of protein after a strenuous exercise.
According to research carried out by the "Food and Nutrition Information Center of the
United States in the Department of Agriculture”, carnitine is ineffective ergogenic aid as it brings
adversarial effects to the person who uses it for a long period of time and also does not consider
the stipulated amount by nutritionist. It is therefore regarded as unsafe and unethical.
Additionally, Carnitine is ineffective since it may aggravate complications (Burke 2005, p. 76).
For instance, it may lead to adversarial effects related to the unwanted genic impacts which may
be serious and irreversible thus culminating in abnormal body functioning. When it is taken in
excess compared to body requirements it may disproportionately affect the body cells. More
energy may be produced by the mitochondria which are transported to body tissues leading to
abnormal activeness and heart diseases. Other effects include immune system complications,
behavioral changes, and restlessness.
Alternatively, ergogenic aids that are rendered effective may include the carbohydrate
since it is proven that carbohydrate intake prior to engagement of strenuous or rigorous activity
like training is very pivotal in sustaining and maintaining an adequate level of glycogen in the
body muscles (Byrd et al 2012, p. 143). Therefore, increased intake of carbohydrate food or
liquid before to endurance event is a remarkable way of enhancing performance. For instance,
endurance athletes rely on their glycogen reserves as a source of energy during the competition
and thus carbohydrate loading is a remarkable method of fostering the level of glycogen in the
body organs. Additionally, proper nutrition is critical for ergogenic aid. Nutrition means proper
food choices and diets that aim at maintaining health and substantially mitigating the risks of

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
stimulators for diseases. Energy requirement in the body depends upon many. For instance,
women require1950 calories while men require 2550 calories per day (Inazu and Matsumiya
2008, p. 102). Therefore, if the level of activity is enhanced, high performance can be attained by
increasing the intake of calorie.
Effective ergogenic aids enhance energy production, use or even recovery hence
providing a competitive advantage to the body. Carnitine can increase energy production and
recovery when a proper diet is observed. In particular, an electrolyte solution is highly
recommended beside carnitine. This is because the body needs a certain level of fluid intake on a
daily routine to function normally and increase energy production and recovery. An approximate
eight-ounce glasses or one liter is required. It has also been proven that a fluid loss which is
equivalent to 3% of the body weight can derail the body functioning leading to heat exhaustion at
6% (Kreideret al 2010, p.256). In summary, an electrolyte solution not only provides fluid but
also contains electrolytes, minerals, and salts required by the body to carry its metabolic
functions normally.
Carnitine is affected by other ergogenic aids. For instance, increased stress can negatively
affect individuals both mentally and physically thus lowering the performance of carnitine.
Stress leads to anxiety, excessive tension and abnormal heart beats (McClung and Collins 2007,
p. 243). This affects carnitine functioning hence ineffective. Stress management is a technique
recognized as an ergogenic aid that helps maintain commitment, control, confidence and
maximum concentration.

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
In summary, carnitine is a form of amino acid synthesized by the body skeletal muscles
to aid in processing food to energy. Most importantly, it is safe at recommended doses but it is
exceedingly ineffective ergogenic aid.

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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
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EXPLORING IF CARNITINE IS AN EFFECTIVE ERGOGENIC AID
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