L-carnitine amino acid plays an extremely important role in your body. However, before you start taking it, you should ask whether there are any L-carnitine supplement side effects. Negative reactions to this product are rare and not severe. Its benefits, on the other hand, are rather impressive.
L-Carnitine Supplement Side Effects
L-carnitine supplements can incur side effects similar to those of most dietary supplements and medications. These include:
- Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea
- Neurological: headaches, dizziness
If given to patients on dialysis, 3 or more grams of L-carnitine daily might cause hypercalcaemia.
Other possible L-carnitine supplement side effects include increased blood pressure, heartbeat and rarely fever. Skin reactions, such as reddening or rash are also possible if you develop a sensitivity to the product.
L-Carnitine Supplement Benefits: Why Take It?
It’s true that despite them being mostly mild, L-carnitine supplement side effects can be unpleasant and dangerous. Therefore, it’s reasonable to wonder whether taking this product is worth taking even the smallest risk.
The answer to that will depend on how much you value the benefits the supplement offers. L-carnitine is an amino acid synthesized by our bodies (kidneys and liver). Its main role is to deliver lipids (fats) to mitochondria through the cell. There these fats will be turned into the fuel for your body.
It’s very important to note that the fats L-carnitine transports are triglycerides. They are the type of lipids that provide you with energy for a while. This means ‘fueling’ your body with them naturally increases your stamina. This is the reason why L-carnitine supplements are popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want to boost their endurance. It’s also one of the main reasons that make L-carnitine effective as a weight loss aid.
Most importantly, L-carnitine supplements can help promote heart health. Several studies indicate that L-carnitine can improve exercise tolerance in cases of chronic angina and effort angina. These conditions occur when your coronary arteries spasm or something else happens to hinder blood flow. In this case, your heart doesn’t get enough blood, which makes it hurt and feel like it’s being squeezed.
This happens quite often in patients suffering from various cardiovascular conditions when they try to exercise. L-carnitine supplement side effects that affect heart rate and vessels are extremely rare. However, its positive effect on this vital organ has been proven. In this case, taking the product definitely can be a smart decision. If promoting heart health is your main goal, consider also taking Coenzyme Q10.
Note you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or making significant dietary changes. It’s especially important for people who have chronic health conditions and/or take medications regularly.
L-Carnitine Supplement: Drug Interactions
It’s not only L-carnitine supplement side effects you need to consider before adding this product to your diet. Research indicates that L-carnitine has a moderate interaction rate with warfarin. This drug is a blood thinner and often used to treat thrombosis and blood clots.
If you take this medication or have any bleeding disorder, be sure to consult a healthcare expert before taking L-carnitine. Due to the overall positive effects of this amino acid and the fact that it’s natural to your body, this combination might be safe. However, it’s always best to make sure.
Are L-Carnitine Supplement Side Effects Dangerous?
It’s essential to understand that every product might have some side effects. One can have an allergy even to the healthiest of foods, such as fruits and whole grains. You wouldn’t stop eating just for the fear of possible allergies, right?
The smart thing to do is to take all the necessary precautions and try the food/product you need. This is the only way to see how exactly your body reacts to it.
You also can reduce the risk of any negative side effects by making sure that you take a top-quality product. L-Carnitine 500g from Nature’s Potent is a pharmaceutical-grade product manufactured in a facility that meets the highest health and safety standards.
