Reversing A Carnitine Deficiency with FoodCarnitine deficiency occurs with aging and has many adverse health effects. While supplements are often recommended to reverse these effects, carnitine is also found in certain foods. So proper eating can also help reverse a carnitine deficiency.
Foods that Contain Carnitine
Carnitine was first isolated from the muscle tissue of animals. In fact, its name comes from the Latin root carn meaning flesh or meat.
And, while carnitine is present in other foods, the highest concentrations of are, indeed found in meat – particularly in red meat. Carnitine is also found in dairy products, sunflower and sesame seeds, legumes including beans, peas and lentils, certain leafy green vegetables such as collard greens, mustard greens, beet greens and kale, and other vegetables including Brussels sprouts and okra, as well in some fruits and cereal grains. However, the amount of carnitine contained in these foods in not sufficient to reverse a deficiency. Studies have shown that those who eat an omnivorous diet (one that includes meat) ingest between 20 and 200 mg/day of carnitine a day, while vegetarians typically obtain as little as 1 mg a day from their diet.
In fact, some experts are now recommending dosages of 1200 to 3000 mg a day as treatment for this condition. Because it is almost impossible to get this much carnitine from your diet, particularly if you do not eat red meat on a regular basis, it is a good idea to take a carnitine supplement.
L-Carnitine and Weight Loss
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