Scientific Reference

L-Carnitine (Levocarnitine)

Evidence profile: Preclinical, with limited uncontrolled human reports

L-Carnitine (levocarnitine) is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative synthesised from lysine and methionine. It has a central role in mitochondrial energy metabolism, transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrion for beta-oxidation — a mechanism that high-energy tissues such as skeletal muscle, heart and brain depend on. Injectable preparations bypass the absorption and gut-conversion limits of oral dosing. Licensed medicines containing levocarnitine exist and are prescribed by clinicians; the material supplied here is a research compound and is not one of them.