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L Carnitine Side Effects: Cardiovascular Risk

April 03, 2018 - Admin

Nutrition experts recommend reducing intake of red meat in the diet because it is high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which promotes coronary artery disease. A Cleveland Clinic study led by Stanley Hazen found that carnitine, a popular athletic supplement and component of red meat, also triggers heart disease. Bacteria in the gut break down carnitine to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which promotes arterial disease by increasing cholesterol deposits in the arteries, contributing to causes of heart failure. High TMAO in the blood was a good predictor of heart attack and stroke. A study by the same research group showed that gut microbes also metabolized phosphatidylcholine, another athletic supplement, to TMOA. Administration of antibiotics decreased TMOA levels. L-carnitine side effects are a concern as carnitine is a popular athletic supplement. However, a joint position statement from the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada concluded that carnitine does not improve athletic performance and might also promote heart disease symptoms. Further research on cardiovascular system diseases is warranted. (Nature Medicine, 19:576-585; New England Journal of Medicine, 368: 1575-1584)