Mitochondrial fatty‑acid shuttle
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About L-Carnitine
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About L-Carnitine
Overview and History
L‑Carnitine is a quaternary amine derived from the amino acids lysine and methionine. Biochemically it exists as free L‑carnitine and as acylcarnitine esters; those forms reflect how fatty acids are activated and moved into mitochondria for beta‑oxidation. The body obtains L‑carnitine from diet (especially meat and dairy), endogenous synthesis in liver and kidneys, and renal reabsorption controls its circulating levels.
Historically identified in the early 20th century, L‑carnitine has long been studied for its central role in cellular energy metabolism. Clinically, measurements of free and acylcarnitines have been used to characterize fatty‑acid transport efficiency, mitochondrial function, and metabolic responses to stress or altered substrate availability.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Elevated circulating L‑carnitine levels can reflect recent supplementation or high dietary intake, reduced renal clearance, or shifts in metabolic flux that increase free carnitine relative to acylcarnitines. Elevated total or certain acylcarnitine patterns may also suggest altered fatty‑acid oxidation or accumulation of specific metabolic intermediates.
Low L‑carnitine values may indicate limited substrate availability, reduced synthesis, increased urinary loss, or impaired transport into tissues, which can correlate with reduced fatty‑acid use. Interpretation is most accurate when reviewed alongside acylcarnitine profiles, lipid markers, renal function, and other Cardio Zoomer results to understand the broader metabolic context.
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes L‑carnitine to assess mitochondrial fatty‑acid handling and energetic balance. This marker helps clarify how the body processes lipids and whether metabolic patterns could influence vascular stress, lipid quality, or oxidative markers. Combined with lipids, redox, and endothelial measures, L‑carnitine contributes to a personalized profile of metabolic contributors to cardiovascular risk.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
