Home Ingredients CarnoLife® (L-Carnitine L-Tartrate)
Athletic PerformanceMuscle & Recovery

CarnoLife® (L-Carnitine L-Tartrate)

Evidence Level
Limited
0 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

CarnoLife® is a branded L-carnitine L-tartrate, a salt of L-carnitine and tartaric acid. L-carnitine is made in the body from amino acids and helps carry long-chain fats into mitochondria to be burned for fuel. No published human trial of CarnoLife itself was found, so the evidence here comes from trials of L-carnitine L-tartrate in general, several of which used another branded form. In small crossover trials, about 2 g/day of L-carnitine taken as L-carnitine L-tartrate for 3 weeks lowered blood markers of muscle damage and soreness after squat exercise. A larger 5-week trial funded by a carnitine maker found better perceived recovery and lower creatine kinase. Effects on strength, power and endurance were small or absent.

Studied Dose Most trials of L-carnitine L-tartrate (none of CarnoLife) gave 2 g/day of L-carnitine, supplied as about 3 g of L-carnitine L-tartrate, for 3 to 5 weeks. Others gave 1 or 2 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate; in a dose comparison both amounts lowered post-exercise stress markers.
Active Compound L-carnitine L-tartrate, a salt of L-carnitine and L-tartaric acid; in one cited trial, 3 g of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplied 2 g of L-carnitine.

Benefits

Exercise recovery and muscle damage markers

In placebo-controlled crossover trials in resistance-trained men and in middle-aged men and women, about 2 g/day of L-carnitine taken as L-carnitine L-tartrate for 3 weeks lowered blood markers of muscle damage after squat exercise; in one, MRI showed less thigh muscle disruption. None tested CarnoLife, and one used Carnipure, another branded form.

Perceived muscle soreness after exercise

In a dose comparison in 8 men, 1 g and 2 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate lowered perceived muscle soreness after resistance exercise. A 5-week trial in 80 adults, funded by the maker of the branded form tested, found better perceived recovery and soreness scores than placebo.

Strength and power after a hard workout

In the maker-funded 5-week trial, L-carnitine L-tartrate blunted the drop in strength and jump power after a high-volume exercise challenge versus placebo. Another trial found no change in strength or power, and a third found no gain in 20 km cycling time, so performance gains are not established.

Mechanism of action

1

Fatty acid transport

L-carnitine helps carry long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, where they are broken down to make ATP. In 15 trained men, 4 weeks of 3 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate did not change fat or carbohydrate use during 90 minutes of steady cycling.

2

Less metabolic stress in working muscle

After squat exercise, L-carnitine L-tartrate lowered blood markers of purine breakdown (hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase) and of membrane damage (malondialdehyde). One trial found lower muscle oxygen levels during exercise, which the authors attributed to greater oxygen use by muscle.

3

Muscle androgen receptor content

In 10 resistance-trained men, 3 weeks of L-carnitine L-tartrate (2 g/day of L-carnitine) raised muscle androgen receptor content before exercise versus placebo; the authors suggested this may support recovery, which was not tested directly.

Clinical trials

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In a 3-week crossover trial in 10 healthy men, 3 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate did not change blood counts or liver, kidney and electrolyte panels compared with placebo.
In a 5-week trial in 80 adults, mild adverse events were reported at similar rates with L-carnitine L-tartrate and placebo, and no serious events occurred.
Carnitine doses of about 3 g/day can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that carnitine can cause muscle weakness in people with uremia and seizures in people with seizure disorders.
Gut bacteria can turn unabsorbed carnitine into TMAO, a compound some research links to heart disease risk; the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says the implications are not well understood.

Important Drug interactions

Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine): in a 6-month trial in women taking suppressive doses of thyroid hormone, 2 or 4 g/day of L-carnitine eased signs of thyroid excess, which suggests carnitine can blunt thyroid hormone action; tell your prescriber.
Coumarin anticoagulants: a published case report described an interaction between supplemental L-carnitine and acenocoumarol; people taking warfarin-type drugs should ask their clinician about checking INR.
Anticonvulsants (valproic acid, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine) and pivalate-conjugated antibiotics lower the body's carnitine levels, per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; discuss carnitine use with your prescriber.

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Frequently asked questions about CarnoLife® (L-Carnitine L-Tartrate)

What is CarnoLife?

CarnoLife® is a branded L-carnitine L-tartrate, a salt of L-carnitine and tartaric acid. L-carnitine helps carry long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, where they are broken down to make ATP. Related forms include L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC).

Has CarnoLife itself been tested in people?

No published human trial of CarnoLife by name was found in PubMed. The trials on this page tested L-carnitine L-tartrate in general; several used Carnipure, another branded form, and the largest was funded by that form's maker.

How does CarnoLife compare with Carnipure?

Both are sold as L-carnitine L-tartrate, so the molecule is the same. The trials on this page that name their product used Carnipure, and no published study compares the two brands or tests CarnoLife directly.

Does L-carnitine L-tartrate improve exercise performance?

Not reliably. One 5-week maker-funded trial found smaller drops in strength and jump power after a hard workout, but another trial found no change in strength or power and a third found no gain in 20 km cycling time. Its best-studied effect is on recovery markers after resistance exercise.

What is CarnoLife used for?

CarnoLife is researched primarily for Athletic Performance and Muscle & Recovery. In placebo-controlled crossover trials in resistance-trained men and in middle-aged men and women, about 2 g/day of L-carnitine taken as L-carnitine L-tartrate for 3 weeks lowered blood markers of muscle damage after squat exercise; in one,…

What is the recommended dosage of CarnoLife?

The clinically studied dose is Most trials of L-carnitine L-tartrate (none of CarnoLife) gave 2 g/day of L-carnitine, supplied as about 3 g of L-carnitine L-tartrate, for 3 to 5 weeks. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is CarnoLife safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for CarnoLife include: In a 3-week crossover trial in 10 healthy men, 3 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate did not change blood counts or liver, kidney and electrolyte panels compared with placebo. It may also interact with some medications. CarnoLife is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does CarnoLife interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine): in a 6-month trial in women taking suppressive doses of thyroid hormone, 2 or 4 g/day of L-carnitine eased signs of thyroid excess, which suggests carnitine can blunt thyroid hormone action; tell your prescriber. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for CarnoLife?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for CarnoLife as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 12 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(12 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Rubin MR, Gómez AL, Ratamess NA, Gaynor P. L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002;282(2):E474-82. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00277.2001.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized balanced crossover in 10 resistance-trained men: 2 g/day of L-carnitine as L-carnitine L-tartrate for 3 weeks blunted the post-squat rise in purine breakdown markers (hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase, uric acid) and in myoglobin, fatty acid-binding protein and creatine kinase; malondialdehyde returned to baseline sooner and MRI-measured thigh muscle disruption was 41 to 45% of the placebo area. Did not test CarnoLife; the product source is not named in the abstract.
  2. Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Vingren JL, Hatfield DL, Fragala MS, Ho JY, Maresh CM, Anderson JM, Volek JS. Responses of criterion variables to different supplemental doses of L-carnitine L-tartrate. J Strength Cond Res. 2007;21(1):259-64. doi: 10.1519/00124278-200702000-00046.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, balanced repeated-measures study in 8 healthy men comparing 0, 1 and 2 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate for 3 weeks: serum carnitine rose with both doses (most with 2 g), and both doses lowered post-exercise hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase, myoglobin and perceived muscle soreness. Did not test CarnoLife.
  3. Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Hatfield DL, Vingren JL, Fragala MS, Ho JY, Thomas GA, Häkkinen K, Volek JS. Effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on muscle oxygenation responses to resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2008;22(4):1130-5. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31817d48d9.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 9 resistance-trained men taking 2 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate for 23 days: muscle oxygenation was lower during arm occlusion and after squat sets, plasma malondialdehyde was attenuated, and prostacyclin did not differ; the authors proposed greater muscle oxygen use as the explanation. Did not test CarnoLife.
  4. Kraemer WJ, Spiering BA, Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Sharman MJ, Rubin MR, French DN, Silvestre R, Hatfield DL, Van Heest JL, Vingren JL, Judelson DA, Deschenes MR, Maresh CM. Androgenic responses to resistance exercise: effects of feeding and L-carnitine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(7):1288-96. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000227314.85728.35.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized crossover in 10 resistance-trained men: L-carnitine L-tartrate (equivalent to 2 g/day of L-carnitine) for 21 days raised pre-exercise muscle androgen receptor content versus placebo; the authors suggested this may promote recovery from resistance exercise. Did not test CarnoLife.
  5. Ho JY, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Fragala MS, Thomas GA, Dunn-Lewis C, Coday M, Häkkinen K, Maresh CM. l-Carnitine l-tartrate supplementation favorably affects biochemical markers of recovery from physical exertion in middle-aged men and women. Metabolism. 2010;59(8):1190-9. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2009.11.012.PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 18 healthy middle-aged men and women: Carnipure tartrate (2 g/day of L-carnitine) for about 3 weeks lowered post-exercise markers of purine metabolism, malondialdehyde, myoglobin, creatine kinase and muscle soreness, but did not change strength, power or a get-up-and-go test. Tested another branded L-carnitine L-tartrate, not CarnoLife.
  6. Stefan M, Sharp M, Gheith R, Lowery R, Ottinger C, Wilson J, Durkee S, Bellamine A. L-Carnitine Tartrate Supplementation for 5 Weeks Improves Exercise Recovery in Men and Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3432. doi: 10.3390/nu13103432.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 5-week trial in 80 adults aged 21 to 65 (73 completed), funded by Lonza, maker of the Carnipure L-carnitine tartrate tested (3 g/day supplying 2 g of L-carnitine, per the full text): better perceived recovery and soreness scores (p = 0.021), lower serum creatine kinase (p = 0.016) and smaller declines in strength and power after a high-volume exercise challenge versus placebo; mild adverse events were similar between groups. Tested another branded form, not CarnoLife.
  7. Broad EM, Maughan RJ, Galloway SD. Effects of four weeks L-carnitine L-tartrate ingestion on substrate utilization during prolonged exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2005;15(6):665-79. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.15.6.665.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover in 15 trained men: 3 g/day of L-carnitine L-tartrate for 4 weeks did not change fat or carbohydrate oxidation during 90 minutes of steady cycling or improve a 20 km time trial; the authors concluded it had no effect on substrate use or endurance performance. Did not test CarnoLife.
  8. Rubin MR, Volek JS, Gómez AL, Ratamess NA, French DN, Sharman MJ, Kraemer WJ. Safety measures of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation in healthy men. J Strength Cond Res. 2001;15(4):486-90..PubMedUsed to support: Placebo-controlled crossover in 10 healthy active men: 3 g/day of L-Carnipure (L-carnitine L-tartrate) for 3 weeks produced no significant differences from placebo in a complete blood count or in liver, kidney, mineral and electrolyte chemistry panels.
  9. Yarizadh H, Shab-Bidar S, Zamani B, Vanani AN, Baharlooi H, Djafarian K. The Effect of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Am Coll Nutr. 2020;39(5):457-468. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2019.1661804.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials of L-carnitine (not specific to L-carnitine L-tartrate or CarnoLife): less muscle soreness from 0 to 96 hours after exercise and lower creatine kinase, myoglobin and LDH at 24 hours versus placebo, with no effect on damage markers beyond that point; the effect was seen mainly in resistance-trained and untrained groups.
  10. Benvenga S, Ruggeri RM, Russo A, Lapa D, Campenni A, Trimarchi F. Usefulness of L-carnitine, a naturally occurring peripheral antagonist of thyroid hormone action, in iatrogenic hyperthyroidism: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(8):3579-94. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.8.7747.PubMedUsed to support: Six-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 50 women on suppressive doses of thyroid hormone (L-T4): 2 or 4 g/day of oral L-carnitine reversed or prevented symptoms and lab signs of thyroid excess. The authors describe carnitine as a peripheral antagonist of thyroid hormone action; the caution about thyroid medicine is an inference from this effect.
  11. Bachmann HU, Hoffmann A. Interaction of food supplement L-carnitine with oral anticoagulant acenocoumarol. Swiss Med Wkly. 2004;134(25-26):385. doi: 10.4414/smw.2004.10631.PubMedUsed to support: Published case report (letter) of an interaction between L-carnitine taken as a food supplement and the oral anticoagulant acenocoumarol; no abstract is available.
  12. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Carnitine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. 2023;Updated April 17, 2023. Accessed 2026..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (government fact sheet). Carnitine helps transport long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for ATP production; doses of about 3 g/day can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor, and carnitine can cause muscle weakness in people with uremia and seizures in people with seizure disorders; gut bacteria can turn unabsorbed carnitine into TMAO, with uncertain implications; valproic acid, phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine reduce blood carnitine, and pivalate-conjugated antibiotics can deplete it.