Are you in the market to buy carnitine but it gets confusing with all those difficult scientific terms on the label like ‘L-Carnitine’, ‘L-Carnitine L-Tartrate’ or ‘LCLT’ and so many more? This blog will help clear out the clouds surrounding them. We will be discussing the difference between L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate, the two most popular forms of carnitine available in the market.
What is Carnitine and Why do we need it?
Carnitine is a familiar name among bodybuilders and athletes, as an efficient post workout supplement known to reduce chances of muscle cramps and help muscle recovery after a high endurance physical activity.
Carnitine which is used in supplements is L-Carnitine, it has a twin brother called D-Carnitine which is toxic in nature and counteracts L-Carnitine benefits.
We all remember one thing from our school textbooks, “Mitochondria is the powerhouse of cell”, meaning mitochondria burns down fat chains and produces energy for our body to consume but who is transporting all that fat from various parts of the cell to mitochondria? It’s no other than L-carnitine. To frame it slightly scientifically L-carnitine transports chains of fatty acids into the mitochondria where they are metabolized under beta-oxidation.
Here is the point to learn which help us understand the difference between L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate : L-Carnitine is commonly known as carnitine, it is responsible for transporting fat to the right place where it is converted into energy for our body.
What are the different types of Carnitine available in the market?
To understand the difference between L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate let’s first understand what all forms of carnitine are available in the market.
Commonly available forms of carnitine are :
- L-Carnitine (Pure): The most basic form of carnitine, can be naturally sourced or synthesized in a lab from chemicals.
- L-carnitine L-tartrate: Also commonly known as LCLT. This is the most common form of carnitine consumed by bodybuilders and athletes. It is added to sports supplements due to its rapid absorption rate, making it most suitable for additive in pre-workout and post-workout supplements. It aids muscle soreness and recovery after exercise when taken as a post-workout supplement.
- Acetyl-L-carnitine: Also known as ALCAR, it is the most effective form known for our brain-related effects. It is best for medicinal benefit by people with neurodegenerative diseases. It is chemically synthesized in labs.
- Propionyl-L-carnitine: This form is good for people with circulatory issues, such as peripheral vascular disease or high blood pressure. It may also boost the production of nitric oxide, which improves blood flow. You can read the benefits of nitric oxide in supplements in this blog.
Difference between L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
From the information above and from the perspective of an athlete, the forms of carnitine we should be interested in are L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate. So, let’s differentiate between the two.
| L-Carnitine | L-Carnitine L-Tartrate |
| It is a naturally synthesized compound in our body that transports fat to mitochondria to be converted into energy. | It is an artificially synthesized compound that uses naturally or artificially sourced carnitine as an ingredient. Our body can absorb it at a faster result, hence it is more effective. |
| It takes about 3-4 hours for pure carnitine to be absorbed by our body. Unsuitable as a pre-workout or post-workout supplement. It is slower but effective. | It takes about 30-40 minutes for absorption into the body, making it more effective for the post-workout supplement. |
| Natural sources of carnitine are animal-based. Vegans have to look for artificial sources. | It is a chemically synthesized compound meaning it can be completed either partially natural or completely artificial. |
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