L-carnitine is a substance produced naturally in the body, but which can be found in the diet in sources of meat. This relates to the main tissue concentration of carnitine which is in muscle tissue. The main physiological function of carnitine is to shuttle acetyl-CoA into the mitochondria for oxidation, and in this way is involved in energy production. However, carnitine supplements can also lower post-exercise lactate levels perhaps through a facilitation of this lactate as a source of energy. As lactate may have detrimental effects on exercise recovery, carnitine supplements may negate this deficit. Carnitine may also stimulate the formation of blood cells, and may also reduce platelet aggregation and prevent the death of immune cells. This suggests that carnitine supplements may also have beneficial effects on immune function and oxygen transport. Overall, evidence supports a role for carnitine in athletes for a number of reasons, and its cheap price and safety suggest it may be worthy of consideration.
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