6 Things You Need To Know About Taking L-Carnitine for Weight Loss
Hey guys, Paul from Ultimate fat Burner.com here. Today I can going to tell you 6 things you need to know about taking l-carnitine for weight loss.
Before I get into the 6 things, one quick point – I’ve included links to the clinical data I use to support my arguments in this article. It’s important you be skeptical about anyone talking about supplements online, and I provde this clinical data so you can confirm I’m not making this stuff up as I go along.
Alright, let’s get started with the 6 things…
1. Conflicting Study Data
The first thing you need to know is that the clinical data for l-carnitine’s role in weight loss is conflicting – a few studies suggest it may help, while most show that it does not.
Additionally, most of the studies confirming l-carnitine’s weight loss benefits are animal based.
2. High Dosage Necessary
The positive studies I could find were conducted with relatively high doses of l carnitine – 2-6 grams per day.
Yet many – actually most – fat burners that contain l-carnitine only contain a few hundred miligrams of the supplement.
This is much, much less than the amount proven effective.
In other words, the l-carnitine in these formulas provides no real value, but is only there to “dress up the label” and make the product appear more inmpressive – and effecive -than it actually is.
This is a standard dirty trick used by the supplement industry.
3. No Evidence on New Forms
There is no evidence newer or more advanced forms of l-carnitine are any more effective for weight loss than the plain Jane stuff. This is marketing spin, no more.
4. L-Carnitine good for Heart Health
The greatest reason to supplement with L-carnitine is completely unrelated to weight loss; it appears to be invaluable for heart health, helping to prevent, even reverse ischemia, stabilize irregular heartbeats, reduce incidents of angina, lower triglycerides and maintain a beneficial cholesterol profile.
5. Side Effects with High Doses
Side effects of high doses of l-carnitine can include nausea or diarrhea. Some people even report an energy boost and mild euphoria from it.
6. Minimum Dose of 3 Grams/Day
If you’re going to try it, you’ll want to take a minimum of 3 grams per day. With a dose that size, the most effective product to take is a liquid one. This is the one I’m currently experimenting with is Isatori’s L-Carnitine LS3 – but you can use any liquid based product you like you like.
The Isatori product contains 3 different types of l-carnitine, included under the premise that certain types are more effective than others. While it’s possible that certain variations more readily absorbed or utilized, there’s no evidence they’re any more effective in delivering the results most commonly advertised. So while this is a decent product and fairly priced, the “3 types” thing is mostly advertising spin. Keep that in mind when you purchase.
Liquid Vs. Powder or Pills: Which is Better?
Liquid wins. Every time.
L-Carnitine for Weight Loss: Summary
Alright guys, that’s a wrap. Hopefully you enjoyed this video and found it helpful. If you’ve used L-carnitine yourself, please do leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you and how you like it. I’d appreciate and so would our readers and viewers!
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Clinical studies cited (health benefits):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20398563
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20639632
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1538579
Clinical studies cited (weight loss):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10861338
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15281008
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2000.tb02283.x/abstract
February 18, 2018
do LIQUID Carnitine obsorbed better than pill/capsules?
symptoms of too much intake of Carnitine?
which liquid brands have you tried?
best place to get your favorite liquid brand?
any other Carnitine-like supplements you take to take for fat burning?
thanks
February 21, 2018
Hi there… never seen any published evidence to suggest one is better than the other, but the liquid versions are usually more cost effective. More details on why I choose liquids here: https://youtu.be/ar5DCIHhdXo (Oh, and I don’t have a favorite brand – I’ve used the Isatori product, but anything will do. BodyBuilding.com is a good place to start your search for a product.
July 29, 2019
I just started taking this supplement for fat loss & to build muscle. I have air of faith in Isatori Products. I highly recommend listening to all the information from Paul.
February 19, 2020
Thank you for the vote of confidence, Mary!
April 14, 2018
CAN we take hydroxycut with l carnitine
April 16, 2018
Akarsh, l-carnitine is not a stimulant so it shouldn’t be an issue to combine them (in fact, many fat burners contain l-carnitine in their formulas).
April 16, 2018
Im a teenager (15) and i need to loose weight around the chest. I eould look normal without the moobs but working out doesnt help, not even if i targret the chest. I want to take theese capsules to loose whole body weight so i can finish by loosing these man boobs. How many capsules should i take at a time for its effects to work. Btw i usually eat a little less than two whole meals a day so please tell me.
April 16, 2018
The number of pills depends on the size of the dose in each. You want to take a minimum of 3,000 mg per day. If a pill contains 500 mg, you’d need to take 6. And remember, you can’t target weight loss through targeted exercise. The body burns fat wherever it likes, you have to rely on a caloric deficit to lose weight – whether that comes from a combination of diet and exercise or just diet. Make sure you know exactly how many calories you need to consume daily. We have some calculators you can use to figure that out here; http://www.ultimatefatburner.com/weight-loss-calculators.html
April 25, 2018
Hi!
Maybe it is different for females but I will have to disagree with part of what was said. Simply because I am living proof. I did tone specific areas of my body by doing specific exercises for those areas. I lost over 100 pounds. And weight did fall off everywhere BUT…I had large, flabby arms so I did a lot of boxing while losing weight and my arms toned up like crazy…no arm flab because of ONLY do boxing which targeted my arms (I would have skinny arms but they would be flabby and not tone if I didn’t do exercises for my arms). My second proof is that I didn’t really do any specific exercises to target my stomach…so I was size 2 and had a flat stomach but it was not tone at all (like my arms). Well over a three year period I ended up gaining about 30 pounds and decided to put it to the test again. So the second time around I did specific stomach, ab exercises (all sitting in a chair) and when the weight went bye bye…this time around I have a very nice tight, firm, flat stomach. Only because I did exercises to target that area! If I hadn’t yes I still would have lost the weight, however my stomach would be like last time and not toned and nice. So absolutely yes, 100%…specific exercises for specific areas will work, does work. And I know that and proven that as fact (happened to my friend as well…she changed her butt entirely from doing squats-an exercise soly “targeting” her butt and legs alone). So respectfully, I am very sorry but anyone who says targeting specific areas to tone and lose weight doesn’t work, does NOT know what they are talking about. 😉
April 26, 2018
Hey there…
I`m glad you experienced the results you did, but believe it or not, your results are not proof that spot reduction works. In fact, it`s been well established that spot reduction does NOT work (see http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/04/targeted-fat-loss-myth-or-reality/). That`s not to say that your arms didn`t tone up and the flab tightened up and so forth… but that didn`t happen as a result of spot reduction but the combination of all the things you were doing. It`s hard to believe when you`ve obtained the results you did, but your results are anecdotal (https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/anecdotal) and the spot reduction myth has been thoroughly debunked over the years. Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing your experience… we all learn when you do! 🙂
June 29, 2018
Hey paul sir there i am 17 years old. So, can tale l carnatine becoze i have chest and belly fat also have man boobs plzz. Rply fast its very. Ans also tell its sideffects plz
July 9, 2018
Dev, like most supplements, l-carnitine is not recommended for anyone under 18. And as noted in the review, not all evidence suggests it works at all. The best solution is to get your diet in order and start reducing the number of calories you consume. There are no miracle solutions, unfortunately.
July 20, 2018
Hi there,
I wanted to know when should I take my L-Carnitine. I bought a liquid formula on body builder and it just says to take it twice a day. Should I take it in the morning and afternoon? Also, with or without food? Thanks!
July 23, 2018
Hi Dawn… I would just recommend you take 3,000 mg per day. I usually take it twice a day on an empty stomach, but I haven’t seen anything in the clinical studies to suggest timing or full/empty stomach makes any difference.
November 6, 2018
I’ve used L carnitine but I put on weight in one week 1kg still I am confused this is the reason I put on weight suddenly or any other thing impacts that I put on weight I didn’t do any exercise or workout during this period is this the reason or I read article if someone suffering from thyroid problem it can cause weight gain ?? But I have my thyroid test before i don’t have such problem before 6 month I don’t know about now..
December 5, 2018
Ali, there’s no reason to believe l carnitine causes weight gain. Your weight will vary a few kilograms here and there depending on a number of factors, including how hydrated you are. Unless you were overeating, it is unlikely you gained 1 kg of fat in one week.