Skip to content
We have already discussed the cyclical use of thermogenic burners and the functions and positive effects of lipotropic substances in reducing adipose tissue - all such agents are used cyclically/temporarily with an appropriate break due to health aspects and/or the adaptation of the human body to the given active ingredients of specific supplements. A agent that is worth discussing and shows an effect supporting the burning of unnecessary fat a bit "from a different side" is l-carnitine, around which various types of controversy have often appeared - all you need to do is know how to use it.
Controversy
Some say it helps - others say it is a placebo and is not able to effectively and efficiently support the processes of burning fat tissue. The truth is that it is enough to pay attention to the forms of this substance and the right doses - it is effective, however, it would be necessary to use relatively high amounts of it. It is always the case that the limits of taking supplements change over time - the same was with l-carnitine. Initially, its dose was established in the range of 0.7-1g - conducting further studies and tests, over the years it was noted that its effectiveness becomes significantly increased by increasing the conventional limit of dosing oscillating in the range of 2-3g. Previous amounts of this substance did not give the effect due to excessive exhaustion of the body in the face of extreme physical effort, and consequently increased use and depletion of components for biochemical transformations. Each person should be approached individually - we choose the dose for ourselves.
Origin, essence and differences between natural and synthetic
It was originally called β-hydroxy-γ-trimethylaminobutyrate, which was first isolated from meat. This was done in 1905 - the rightful credit went to Gulewitsch and Krimberg, but the research was suspended. The real boom and increase in the popularity of l-carnitine occurred from 1947, when its positive properties in terms of combating fat tissue and health aspects were assessed - it also did not show any special side effects.
It is true that the human body is capable of producing the so-called natural form of this compound on its own. However, there are some differences here… The form of L-carnitine most often used in supplements that help get rid of excessively stored fat tissue and inhibit its deposition is much more biologically active and is the only one that is able to effectively affect fat tissue.
It must be admitted that l-carnitine as a stand-alone supplement has a much weaker effect on combating fat tissue than thermogenic fat burners. However, it is worth approaching the reduction of fat tissue "step by step", starting with weaker agents such as l-carnitine and CLA, and only then moving on to formulas and types of stronger supplements - this will allow you to gradually get rid of the "backlog" and check what works best for you. The combination of a thermogenic with l-carnitine turned out to be very effective - thanks to this, you can approach the fat problem from different angles, using a greater number of physiological and biochemical processes. The lack of side effects certainly speaks in favor of this supplement, which cannot be said about thermogenic fat burners - they increase body temperature and blood pressure, which in fact has an extremely negative effect on people with problems with the circulatory and cardiovascular systems. Such fat burners are also most often based on caffeine, which is its active ingredient - it stimulates the nervous system, thus increasing excitability, which may be harmful to people with hormonal problems and nervous system defects.
Mechanism of action
In the human body - in relation to fatty acids - the largest amount of circulating fats are the so-called higher fatty acids with long chemical chains. However, they pose quite a challenge for our body, because they are unable to pass through the mitochondrial membranes - so they cannot be burned in the energy combustion centers (mitochondria). L-carnitine therefore plays a conductive role here, because it is able to combine with higher fatty acids and thus transport them through the mitochondrial membranes - the result of the connection process is called acyl-carnitine. With the participation of specific and specialized enzymes and the so-called coenzyme A, it is able to disconnect again and return to the matrix - the entire process is called the beta-oxidative pathway. However, this is conditioned by strictly defined factors/dependencies - the entire mechanism of the beta-oxidative pathway depends on the amount and availability of oxygen and the level of sugar in the blood. What else? Well, we have already mentioned natural and synthetic L-carnitine derived from a supplement - the pathway of this process and its effectiveness also depends on the amount of biologically active L-carnitine available in the body, as well as on the activity and number of active mitochondria.
As a result of great physical effort, as a rule, according to classical human metabolism, we first use sugar substances for energy purposes - one of the energy stores located in the muscles is glycogen, which is stored in the form of sugar in the muscles, liver and in a small amount in the brain. However, this store is not very large and, like everything, has its limitations - when it is exhausted, and the effort and life processes are still continued, the body looks for another source of energy. Then fatty acids are released, which circulate in the body in a free state. As I mentioned above, the largest amounts are so-called higher fatty acids. Simple fats penetrate both the first and second mitochondrial membranes to be used for combustion processes - those with a slightly more complicated chemical structure must be combined with l-carnitine, which is a specific transporter for them. Only then can they be burned or converted into an energy substance. In this way, l-carnitine is able to inhibit the mechanisms of further storage of fat tissue under the skin.
Health and protection
L-carnitine has a relatively high antioxidant effect, effectively supporting the fight against reactive oxygen species (ROS) - aggressive free radicals are not able to damage our cells, nor lead to the breakdown and damage of blood cells. It improves the functioning of the circulatory and cardiovascular systems by stabilizing the ratio of LDL and HDL - it lowers the level of bad cholesterol and increases the level of good cholesterol. Additionally, it supports anti-catabolic and anti-acidifying processes in muscles - it allows to maintain acid-base balance. It limits the action and activity of lactates and pyruvates, which, by affecting muscle acidification and disturbing the balance of the acid-base ratio, are able to damage muscle proteins. It helps reduce catabolic cortisol secreted excessively during extreme physical effort.
Recommended supplements:
• Acivlab Creatine 3 [L-carnitine tartrate, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine]
- 1 capsule twice a day
• Activlab L-Carnitine plus Green Tea [l-carnitine, green tea leaf extract]
- 2 capsules a day
• Activlab L-Carnitine plus HCA [l-carnitine, Garcinia Cambogia fruit extract]
- 2 capsules 1.5-2 hours before training
• Activlab L-Carnitine 600 or Activlab L-Carnitine 1000
- 2 capsules a day (l-carnitine 600mg) or 1 capsule a day (l-carnitine 1000mg)
Janusz Ziolkowski - www.bb-mag.pl
