L-Carnitine
Frequently Bought Together
L-Carnitine by BeaCapra — premium research-grade compound verified to ≥99.0% purity via independent HPLC and LC-MS analysis.
Supplied as lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in vacuum-sealed glass vials. Each batch undergoes rigorous third-party testing to ensure pharmaceutical-grade consistency and stability.
Specifications
- Purity: ≥99.0% (HPLC verified)
- Form: Lyophilized Powder
- Category: Aminos
- Storage: -20°C recommended, protect from light
Quality Assurance
Every BeaCapra product ships with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) documenting purity verification via HPLC and mass spectrometry. Our compounds are synthesized under strict GMP-adjacent protocols and undergo batch-level quality control.
For Research Use Only (RUO). Not intended for human consumption, therapeutic, or diagnostic use.
Research Benefits
- Fatty Acid Transport — L-Carnitine is essential for shuttling long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane for β-oxidation, making it central to energy metabolism research.
- Mitochondrial Function — L-Carnitine participates in the carnitine shuttle (CPT1/CPT2) and modulates the acyl-CoA/CoA ratio, influencing mitochondrial metabolic flexibility.
- Exercise Physiology — Research examines L-Carnitine's effects on substrate utilization, lactate production, and exercise performance in various models.
- Neuroprotection — Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR), the acetylated form, crosses the blood-brain barrier and is studied for neuroprotective and cognitive effects.
Mechanism of Action
L-Carnitine (3-hydroxy-4-N-trimethylaminobutyrate) is a conditionally essential amino acid derivative synthesized from lysine and methionine.
Carnitine Shuttle: L-Carnitine binds long-chain acyl-CoA esters via CPT1 (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1) on the outer mitochondrial membrane, forming acylcarnitine. This is transported across the inner membrane by CACT (carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase), then reconverted to acyl-CoA by CPT2 for β-oxidation.
Metabolic Buffer: L-Carnitine buffers excess acyl-CoA, maintaining the acyl-CoA/free CoA ratio and preventing acyl-CoA-mediated inhibition of key metabolic enzymes (pyruvate dehydrogenase, adenine nucleotide translocase).
Antioxidant Activity: L-Carnitine scavenges reactive oxygen species and upregulates antioxidant enzymes, providing mitochondrial oxidative stress protection.
Research Protocol
For research use only.
Preparation
L-Carnitine is water-soluble. Prepare stocks at 100 mM in sterile water, filter-sterilize.
Research Applications
- In vitro (fatty acid oxidation): 0.5-5 mM in cell culture for substrate utilization assays.
- In vivo (murine): 100-500 mg/kg oral or IP for metabolic studies.
- Mitochondrial assays: 1-10 mM in isolated mitochondrial preparations.
Storage
Store powder at room temperature, desiccated. Solutions at 2-8°C, use within 14 days.
Safety & Handling
Research Use Only.
Known Considerations
- L-Carnitine is generally well-tolerated; GI effects at high oral doses in animal models.
- TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) production from gut microbial metabolism of carnitine has been linked to cardiovascular risk in some epidemiological studies.
- Use the L-isomer only; D-carnitine is biologically inactive and may interfere with L-carnitine transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is L-Carnitine?
- L-Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that transports long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for β-oxidation. It is synthesized endogenously from lysine and methionine and is also obtained from dietary sources.
- What is the carnitine shuttle?
- The carnitine shuttle is the CPT1/CACT/CPT2 transport system that moves long-chain fatty acyl groups across the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is otherwise impermeable to acyl-CoA esters.
- What purity is this product?
- BeaCapra L-Carnitine is ≥99% pure with COA documentation.
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Customer Reviews
Exceptional purity and fast shipping
Third-party COA verified at 99.1% purity. Arrived in 2 days with proper cold packaging. The documentation included was thorough and professional. Will be ordering again for our lab.
Best supplier I've found
After trying several suppliers, BeaCapra consistently delivers the highest quality compounds. The subscribe & save option is a great value, and their customer support team answered all my questions promptly.
Great product, COA checks out
Ran our own HPLC analysis and confirmed the purity claims. Packaging was secure and discreet. Only minor note — would love to see more size options for some of the newer compounds. Otherwise excellent.
Subscribe & save is the way to go
The 15% discount on subscription makes this the most competitive pricing I've found for research-grade compounds at this purity level. Auto-delivery every 30 days has been seamless. Highly recommend.
Exactly what our research team needed
We've been sourcing from BeaCapra for our university lab and the consistency batch-to-batch is impressive. Every order comes with a COA and the compounds are properly lyophilized. Professional operation all around.
Questions About L-Carnitine
General Questions
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