Conjugated Linoleic Acid and L-Carnitine
DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The prevalence of obesity and its associated complications is at an all-time high, thanks to unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices. To avoid those complications, many people are struggling to lose some weight.
Although dietary modifications and regular exercise is the best way to lose weight, it can be difficult for some people to bring these changes into their life. Some may also want faster results and don't have the patience to let diet and exercise show their magic.
For those people, dietary supplements can come in handy as they are easy to include in your daily routine and yield faster results. Conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine are two such supplements that can help you lose weight effectively.
Follow the article below to know more about conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine and their effects on weight loss.
CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID AND WEIGHT LOSS
Conjugated linoleic acid is one of the most common polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids found in meat and dairy products. It is also found in vegetable oil and must be consumed through diet as your body is unable to synthesize it on its own.
Conjugated linoleic acid works by suppressing the activity of an enzyme known as lipoprotein lipase. This particular enzyme picks up fat cells from circulation and converts them into a storage form of fat. As a result, fat begins to deposit in your body.
Hence, by suppressing the activity of lipoprotein lipase, conjugated linoleic acid prevents the accumulation of fat in your body. Not only this, it can also stimulate the burning of existing fat stored in your body.
Conjugated linoleic acid also reduces your appetite and promotes fat conversion into energy. By doing this, conjugated linoleic acid converts unhealthy white adipose tissue into more healthy brown adipose tissues.
Together all these effects of conjugated linoleic acid boost your metabolism and help you maintain a healthy weight in the long run.
L-CARNITINE AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
L-carnitine is an amino acid synthesized by your liver and kidneys using lysine and methionine as precursor molecules. The food sources for L-carnitine include meat, seafood, poultry, and milk.
L-carnitine is responsible for transporting long-chain fatty acids to the mitochondria present inside the cells. There these fatty acids are burnt to release energy. This phenomenon helps your body to burn more fat during exercise and even at rest.
The consumption of L-carnitine also elevates your energy levels and improves your athletic performance. This means you are able to exercise more and consequently lose weight.
THE COMBINED POWER OF CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID AND L-CARNITINE FOR LOSING WEIGHT
Conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine are popular dietary supplements used for weight management. Individually both of them have shown great results when it comes to weight loss.
However, combining these two can yield even greater results as L-carnitine will provide you with more energy to exercise for a longer duration, and conjugated linoleic acid will burn more fat during the workout.
Using conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine in combination not only helps you lose weight but also improves endurance. Together these two ensure that you only lose weight, not your lean muscle mass. Also, there is minimal muscle damage when these two are used in combination during weight loss training.
SIDE EFFECTS
Both conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine are safe to use in daily routine; however, excess consumption of any of these supplements can lead to mild to moderate side effects.
Some of the common side effects associated with conjugated linoleic acid usage are:
- Nausea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Dyspepsia
- Headache
- Fatigue
The side effects caused by the consumption of L-carnitine include:
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal cramps
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Fishy body odor
- Seizures
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN
Although conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine are considered safe to use as dietary supplements, there are certain circumstances in which you should consume these two supplements with great care.
Some of the conditions which require extra caution for the use of conjugated linoleic acid, and L-carnitine are:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding – There is not enough information available regarding the safety of conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hence, you should stay on the safe side and avoid consuming both these supplemenets when you’re either pregnant or breastfeeding the child.
- Bleeding disorders – L-carnitine doesn't pose any danger to people with bleeding disorders, but conjugated linoleic acid can worsen the bleeding disorders and should not be used by people suffering from any bleeding disorder.
- Seizures – Conjugated linoleic acid doesn’t cause seizure; however, L-carnitine is likely to cause seizures in people who have already had them before.
IN A NUTSHELL
each passing day, people are becoming more and more conscious about their weight as they are now more aware than ever that being overweight and obese increases the risk of developing several diseases.
Following a healthy diet and regular exercise is the best way to lose weight; however, it is not a piece of cake for everyone to exercise on a daily basis and eat healthily as well. Hence, some people opt for dietary supplements to support their weight loss journey.
There are numerous weight loss supplements available on the market, out of which conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine are the two popular ones. Conjugated linoleic acid prevents the accumulation of fat and converts unhealthy white adipose tissue to healthy brown adipose tissue.
L-carnitine facilitates the burning of fat during exercise and at rest and boosts your athletic performance allowing you to exercise more. As a result, you are able to lose weight more effectively.
A combination of conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine has even more efficacy. It doesn't only allow you to lose weight but also helps to retain lean muscle mass and minimizes muscle injury during weight loss training.
It is recommended that you speak with your healthcare provider before starting conjugated linoleic acid and L-carnitine supplementation, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications for any underlying health conditions.
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RESOURCES
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16768833/