Acetyl L-Carnitine Supplements: Helpful or bogus?

July 11, 2008 11:49 AM

Do any of you have experience with using acetyl L-carnitine for its fat-burning properties? I have googled and searched previous MeFi questions, but see very little on whether people have achieved results on the fat-burning front by using this supplement.

Pertinent info: I'm 45, have been on a weight loss program for the past few months that includes high protein, whole grains, very little refined sugar, flour, etc. I do 3 rounds of whole-body weight-training followed by 30 mins of cardio 3 days a week and an hour of cardio 2-3 days a week (I do HIIT on a stationary bike at the gym for my cardio. After recent surgeries on both feet, the bike is the only cardio method my dr. has cleared me for). I consume probably around 1500-2000 cals/day (this is a rough estimate, but probably pretty close), but I focus more on what I eat, especially protein, fruits, and vegetables. I take a multivitamin made for women every day, but no other supplements.

I have hypothyroidism, but am on medication and my endocrinologist monitors my #s every 4-6 months and has adjusted my dose upward after I told her I was having a problem losing weight, even with a change in my diet and exercise habits. She did note that my levels were low, hence the dose adjustment.

Thus far, I have lost 22 lbs, and have been measured by a trainer at the gym and have dropped a significant amount of body fat (from 40% at the beginning to 25% now). The same trainer measures me every time, and in the same way using calipers (I know this isn't a 100% accurate body-fat measurement technique, but the fact that my measurements have been taken consistently in the same places on my body by the same person over the past 4 months is a plus and helps the accuracy).

As much as it embarrasses me to admit this in a public forum and not post anonymously, I am 5'3" and currently weigh 163 lbs. Until a couple of days ago, I was stuck at 164 for a couple of weeks, which was pretty discouraging considering how hard I work at the gym. My ultimate weight goal is between 130-140 lbs.

Sorry for all the detail, but I know some of you will want it before answering my questions:

*Is taking an acetyl L-carnitine supplement (500mg 3x/day) going to make any difference at all? (I just started taking it 3 days ago, and oddly, that's when I started dropping a half a pound a day over the past 2 days. I am pretty sure this is just a coincidence, but it did wonders for me mentally to break that damn 164-lb. barrier.)

*Do any of you have personal experience--either positive or negative--with taking acetyl L-carnitine supplements?

Thanks everybody!!

posted by angiewriter to health & fitness (4 comments total)

Disregard that "3 rounds of whole-body weight-training..." It is supposed to be "Whole-body weight training followed by 30 mins of cardio 3 days a week." 3 rounds 3 days a week would kill me!!!
posted by angiewriter at 11:59 AM on July 11, 2008

More clarification: I began my weight-loss program 4 months ago.
posted by angiewriter at 12:04 PM on July 11, 2008

Is taking an acetyl L-carnitine supplement (500mg 3x/day) going to make any difference at all?

There's no evidence that it will. A review in the journal American Family Physician states that "no trials demonstrate that l-carnitine is effective for weight loss."
posted by grouse at 12:38 PM on July 11, 2008

It worked for me. I run to lose weight. Could not lose that last few pounds of nagging belly/side fat.

It was a suppplement containing l-carnitine and l-lysine that got me there. I think I was taking one before each meal if I remember correctly.

So it was a positive experience for me and I would not hesitate to use them again.
posted by Zambrano at 2:24 PM on July 11, 2008 [3 favorites]