Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
analyze & realize GmbH, Waldseeweg 6, 13467 Berlin, Germany.
Nutrients. 2018 Mar 13;10(3):349. doi: 10.3390/nu10030349.
Given its pivotal role in fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism, l-carnitine has been investigated as ergogenic aid for enhancing exercise capacity in the healthy athletic population. Early research indicates its beneficial effects on acute physical performance, such as increased maximum oxygen consumption and higher power output. Later studies point to the positive impact of dietary supplementation with l-carnitine on the recovery process after exercise. It is demonstrated that l-carnitine alleviates muscle injury and reduces markers of cellular damage and free radical formation accompanied by attenuation of muscle soreness. The supplementation-based increase in serum and muscle l-carnitine contents is suggested to enhance blood flow and oxygen supply to the muscle tissue via improved endothelial function thereby reducing hypoxia-induced cellular and biochemical disruptions. Studies in older adults further showed that l-carnitine intake can lead to increased muscle mass accompanied by a decrease in body weight and reduced physical and mental fatigue. Based on current animal studies, a role of l-carnitine in the prevention of age-associated muscle protein degradation and regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis is suggested.
鉴于左旋肉碱在脂肪酸氧化和能量代谢中的关键作用，它已被研究作为一种增强健康运动员运动能力的运动补剂。早期研究表明，它对急性身体表现有有益影响，如增加最大耗氧量和更高的功率输出。后来的研究指出，左旋肉碱的饮食补充对运动后的恢复过程有积极影响。研究表明，左旋肉碱可减轻肌肉损伤，减少细胞损伤和自由基形成的标志物，并减轻肌肉酸痛。基于补充剂的血清和肌肉左旋肉碱含量增加被认为可以通过改善内皮功能来增加血液流向肌肉组织并增加氧气供应，从而减少缺氧引起的细胞和生化紊乱。在老年人中的研究进一步表明，左旋肉碱的摄入可以增加肌肉质量，同时降低体重，减轻身体和精神疲劳。基于目前的动物研究，左旋肉碱在预防与年龄相关的肌肉蛋白降解和调节线粒体动态平衡方面可能发挥作用。
