Carnitine
As amino acids go, carnitine is quite the popular fellow. But the truth is, it's not really an amino acid at all! It's only classed as such because of a structural likeness. Want to Know what is carnitine and how it aids fat loss then read on to know more.
It's more commonly known as "Vitamin BT". Carnitine actually comes in four forms: D-carnitine, DL-carnitine, L-carnitine and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). Only the last two could be of actual use to bodybuilders.
When there is enough Thiamin (Vitamin B1) and pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) in circulation, it can trigger methionine and lysine to manufacture carnitine. Unlike the majority of amino's, and this is the reason why we consume as much protein as we do, it is not involved in protein synthesis.
These characteristics have given it enormous media-attention in bodybuilding circles because optimal use of carnitine might lead to a decrease in body-fat percentage and more energy.
For health reasons, carnitine may also be beneficial to prevent fatty acid buildup within the heart, liver and muscle. Carnitine is a good idea in any case because it improves the anti-oxidizing effect of Vitamins C and E.
Carnitine is the only non-essential amino acid that should be considered for long-term use. For people needing to stay lean year long, it could be a very helpful tool. But here, too, I see no need to use it on a permanent basis, since a lot of it is present in protein-dense foods.
For competitive bodybuilders I would only suggest use when dieting, since the leaning out effect may impair the anabolic environment and consequently muscle-growth, but for those of you making a living as a model or a guest poser, carnitine could be your number one supplement for keeping lean year round.
For those of you supplementing carnitine, it is wise not to follow standard guidelines, but to calculate intake according to lean bodyweight.
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© Rohan Bhardwaj
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