What Is L-Carnitine?

While it is often categorized as an amino acid, L-carnitine isn't technically an amino. It is considered a "vitamin-like" and "amino-acid-like" compound that is related to the B vitamins. When it was first studied back in the 1950s, L-carnitine was referred to as vitamin BT.

L-carnitine is formed in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids lysine and methionine. However, it is stored elsewhere in the body, primarily in muscle (including the heart), the brain, and even in sperm. In the diet, it mainly comes from meat and other animal products. You can get some from plant products like avocado and soybeans, but as a rule, meat is the best source—and the redder the better.

Carnitine exists in two forms: D-carnitine and L-carnitine. The L-form is the kind of carnitine found in nature and is biologically active. On labels, you'll see it listed as L-carnitine, L-carnitine L-tartrate, or Propionyl-L-carnitine. They're all similar, and similarly effective. The D form of carnitine, on the other hand, is biologically inactive and isn't sold as a supplement.

Acetyl L-carnitine, also known as acetylcarnitine or ALCAR, is another popular supplemental form of carnitine. It can be found throughout the central nervous system, where it plays a role in producing energy and produces the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

The acetyl group attached to the carnitine molecule enhances its ability to pass across the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, where it acts as a powerful antioxidant. For this reason, some research suggests that acetyl L-carnitine may provide protective actions against aging processes and neurodegeneration.

What Does L-Carntine Do?

L-carnitine helps to transport fat, particularly long-chain fatty acids, into the mitochondria of cells. Once there, the fatty acids can be oxidized—used as fuel—to generate adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. L-carnitine does this cellular work both when you exercise and rest, but research confirms that it is especially effective during intense exercise.

Without adequate carnitine, most dietary fats can't get into the mitochondria and be burned for fuel. But for people with carnitine deficiency, it is a serious medical condition. It can lead to muscle weakness, stunted growth, an enlarged liver, and a number of other problems. This is one reason it's considered a "conditionally essential" nutrient: Your body produces it, but if it doesn't produce enough, your health can be seriously impacted.

A study out of Scotland concluded that in addition to its fat-transporting work, L-carnitine also enhances insulin's actions on muscle cells.[1] What this means is that it can help keep blood glucose levels low, even after a carb-rich meal, while also aiding glycogen repletion. This is one reason I advocate taking this supplement with a post-workout meal.

Some of the most interesting research into L-carnitine supplementation focuses on how it can enhance athletic performance.

What Are The Performance And Physique Applications Of L-Carnitine?

L-carnitine's bona fide role as a fat-burning supplement is well established. During bulking periods, it can help limit fat gains and make a "cleaner" bulk. If you're cutting, it can help transport the fat you have into your cellular furnaces to get burned as energy.

Burning fat as fuel: Some of the most interesting recent research into L-carnitine supplementation focuses on how it can enhance athletic performance. In one study, University of Nottingham Medical School researchers had one group of athletes consume 2 grams of L-carnitine along with 80 grams of a high-glycemic carb first thing in the morning and four hours later for 24 weeks. Another group only took the carbs.[2]

The researchers found that during low-intensity cycling, the subjects taking carnitine burned 55 percent less muscle glycogen while increasing the body's ability to burn fat by 55 percent. During high-intensity cycling, the subjects taking L-carnitine had lower levels of lactic acid and higher levels of creatine phosphate, one of the primary building blocks of ATP.

Fatigue resistance: When the Nottingham researchers measured the subjects' ability to resist fatigue during a cycling test, they found that subjects taking the supplement were able to go more than 25 percent longer. This was likely because they burned more fat while preserving muscle glycogen, in addition to having lower levels of lactic acid and higher levels of creatine phosphate.

Decreased Muscle Soreness, Improved Recovery: In a number of studies on human subjects, L-carnitine doses of just 1-2 grams per day have been shown to significantly reduce muscle damage from strenuous exercise, and improved recovery to exercise.[3-6] It has also been shown to decrease muscle soreness. The best part? It wasn't rats doing these workouts. It was healthy, active men and women.

Better blood flow and pumps: This supplement's performance benefits not only stem from its ability to increase fat burning and decrease glycogen use, but also from the way it can enhance blood flow to the muscles.[7] Increased blood flow means more nutrients and hormones go where they're needed most during exercise.

How does this work? For one, carnitine reduces oxidative damage in the body's nitric oxide (NO). But it also enhances the activity of a key enzyme involved in your body's NO production. The net result is higher NO blood levels, which not only enhance energy during workouts, but also muscle recovery following workouts.

GNC or General Nutrition Corporation has been creating the best nutritional supplements since it was established in 1935 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This is one of the best known and most widely used supplements that brings you products for fitness and general health. GNC is known for its truthful labelling and attention to quality with every product that is released in the market.

No matter what nutritional support you are looking for, be it whey proteins, fat loss supplements or even health foods, you can be sure that you will find exactly when you need with the wide range of products offered by GNC.

Guardian Healthcare, one of the largest health and wellness supplement retailers in India and master franchisee for General Nutrition Center (GNC) products in India, has initiated local product manufacturing to further provide Indian consumers with premium, high-quality GNC products at an affordable price.

Currently Parent company of GNC Holdings, Inc. (also known as General Nutrition Centers and abbreviated GNC) is Harbin Pharmaceutical Group,  a company based in Harbin, China. It specializes in health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet, and energy products.

GNC is the chain of health food stores, and has been America’s nutritional supplement manufacturer since the 1930’s. GNC is in the development and manufacture of dietary supplements and is committed to producing the highest quality products available.

The Company owns LAC brand that is distributed globally including China, Asia Pacific, USA, Middle East, Mexico, and is the sole franchisee for GNC in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan and operates over 200 retail stores spanning these countries. Its other subsidiaries include Xndo and Face On Clinic by Doctors. The Company is dedicated to ensuring consumers Live Well.

Our Mission Build global presence, develop people, promote health

Our Core Values Integrity – Honesty and fairness with colleagues, customers and business associates Engagement – Engaging colleagues, customers and business associates proactively & interactively Growth – Breaking all boundaries to perform and excel beyond limits set by Company and Self

GNC : A Leading Sports Nutrition Brand

When it comes to sports nutrition, GNC covers all the products that you will need to have a successful supplementation program. They have the widest range of supplements that cover everything from Whey Protein Supplements , BCAA power to multivitamin tablets. Trusted for quality by professional athletes and bodybuilders, 

Why is GNC different?

GNC India has always set the highest standards in terms of nutritional supplements. There are several advantages of choosing GNC supplements as mentioned below:

Truth in labelling: With GNC Nutrition, what you see is exactly what you get. The labelling of each product is accurate so that you know what nutrients you are consuming and how much. There are no hidden ingredients in GNC products.

Complete Safety: First, you have the advantage of products that come with honest labelling. In addition to that every ingredient that is used in GNC products undergoes a strict quality test and safety test. You also have all the allergen information necessary on the product to ensure that it is100% safe to consume.

Guaranteed product potency: Be it GNC Fish oil, multivitamin tablets or any other product that you choose, results are guaranteed. This is because each product is tested for potency and you have the best possible formula made available to you. With regular consumption of GNC supplements, you can be sure of getting the results that you want.

Innovation: GNC is constantly working towards introducing new products to better the lifestyle of consumers. This has led to some of the best formulae that have been able to yield astounding results.

Widest range of products: From the best health and fitness products to even skin care products, GNC India brings to you the best and most effective supplements.

GNC for Muscle Building

When it comes to bodybuilding and muscle development, GNC is a product that you can trust. They have several products to help you develop strength and volume such as:

Whey proteins

The best-selling products in the GNC range are the Whey protein supplements and Whey protein isolate powder . Depending upon the amount of protein and the nutrients required for you, there are different types of GNC whey protein supplements such as GNC Amp Gold 100% Whey Protein Advanced, GNC PP 100% Whey Protein Powder, GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein. These proteins have several unique and beneficial features as mentioned below:

Contain 100% whey proteins: Get the purest proteins packed in to every scoop of these whey protein supplements. With these premium supplements such as GNC Amp Gold 100% Whey Advanced, you can get up to 24 g of pure proteins in each serving.

Loaded with amino acids: The most important part of muscle building and development is recovery. Get the advantage of amino acid supplements with the best quality BCAAs and glutamine in these supplements. This is what makes it one of the best whey proteins in India.

Aid lean muscle development: GNC proteins are low in fat and carbohydrates, ensuring that you have a clean source of necessary macronutrients without any added caloric load on your body.

Amino Acid Supplements

The harder you train, the faster you need to recover so that you can continue to push yourself with each training session. This is when you require amino acid supplements.  The GNC range includes BCAA powder as well as L-Glutamine powder that loads your body with necessary amino acids to ensure faster recovery. The benefits of these supplements are:

Correct ratio of necessary nutrients: With the BCAA powder, you get the perfect 2:1:1 ration of Leucine, Valine and Isoleucine to ensure that your muscles get the right amount of these amino acids for faster recovery.

Prevents any muscle breakdown: The nutrients found in the BCAA supplements and the L-Glutamine Powder, constitute a major portion of your muscles. This gives your muscles a consistent supply of necessary nutrients to maintain an anabolic environment in your body. This prevents any chance of muscle loss and helps you build more volume.

Fuels training: Consuming these supplements while you train keeps your muscles fueled and helps you push harder. These supplements delay muscle fatigue which means that you are able to achieve more in each training session.

GNC for Overall Health

GNC ensures that you are able to bridge any nutritional gap due to an inadequate diet through their health supplements that include just about everything that you need. From improving immunity, bone strength to overall health, these supplements include the following products:

Multivitamins

GNC multivitamins are formulated specially as per the different needs of men and women. You can consume these products as a daily supplement as per the advised dosage. GNC multivitamins are different from the rest because of these features:  

Specially formulated Vitamins for Men: Products like Mega Men Sports Vitapak contain the perfect combination of vitamins that are necessary for men. These multivitamins for men meet the needs of active men who require a higher amount of proteins.

Special formulae for women:  Multivitamins for women provide nutrients that women need. The specific requirement of women is met through products like GNC Women’s Hair, Skin and Nails are multivitamin tablets especially for her.

Other multivitamins: You also have the advantage of targeted products like Vitamin D3 that can help you deal with certain deficiencies and ensure that you enjoy overall health.

Bone and Joint Health Supplements

It is vital for you to have good bone health if you want to perform to your best abilities. The harder you train, the more nutritional support you need in order to develop bone strength and joint mobility. The bone and joint supplement range includes Triflex Fast Acting Glucosamine Tablets that are among the best available in the market. These products offer several benefits such as:

Better joint mobility: The ingredients in these supplements improve lubrication of the joints for better joint mobility to prevent any chances of injuries in case of heavy training.

Provides necessary nutrients: Be it phosphorus or calcium, these supplements contain all the nutrients that you need to improve overall bone strength.

Prevent degenerative diseases: Special ingredients in these bone and joint health supplements keep your bones healthier for longer and prevent age related and stress related issues in your bones and joints significantly.

GNC for Weight Loss

Whether you are looking at quick solutions for weight management or need to cut fat fast when preparing for a competition or any other event, GNC fat loss supplements will help you cut fat safely. This includes products like GNC Pro Performance CLA that help you achieve that chiseled and ripped physique that you always dreamed of. These fat loss supplements are beneficial because:

They help your body metabolize fats without any added stimulants that may lead to health issues in the future.

The general metabolism of your body is improved to ensure that you are able to burn more calories to help you get rid of unwanted fat much faster.

Your appetite is suppressed by loading your body with necessary nutrients so that you are able to achieve your fitness goals quickly.  

GNC Herbal Products

Along with these fitness and sports supplements, GNC also includes a range of herbal products. These products contain extracts from herbs and other natural sources and are useful in not only improving your health but can also help you alleviate several existing health conditions. The top selling herbal products in the GNC range are as follows:

GNC Gingko Biloba

GNC Gingko Biloba contains extracts of this plant that is known for its nootropic properties. This aids in improving your concentration and also boosting your memory.

It is extremely beneficial in helping individuals who are suffering from conditions like vertigo.

It allows you to become mentally sharper and therefore improves focus when you are training.

Gingko biloba can prevent the onset of several degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

GNC Cranberry Fruit

Containing the extracts of high quality cranberries, this product is rich in antioxidants and therefore, boosts your immunity quite significantly.

It can reduce the chances of any cardriovascular issues.

The antioxidants and the phytochemicals in this product also help keep the urinary trach healthy and give you improved hair and skin health as well.

Antioxidants help your muscles recover faster as they reduce the oxidative stress on your muscles after heavy training.

GNC Women’s Evening Primrose

This is a product that is targeted at improving women’s health overall.

Evening primrose oil is rich in gamma linoleic acid or GLA which is responsible for triggering several metabolic activities.

It helps alleviate menopause symptoms in women.

The GLA keeps bones well lubricated and prevents common bone and joint issues in women such as arthritis.

THE GLA in evening primrose also promotes better skin and hair health.

Other products

The GNC range of supplements contains several other supplements that help you manage certain health issues. Some such supplements include:

Diabetes Care Supplements: Keeping your blood sugar level regulated is a must in order to manage and prevent diabetes. Products like Mega Man Diabetic Care helps improve glucose metabolism. This is a multivitamin supplement that contains all the necessary ingredients that improve glucose metabolism. They also help improve eye and heart health giving you added health benefits.

Heart Health Supplements: GNC Fish oil supplements such as Triple Strength Krill oil provide your body with a good dose of vital nutrients like Omega-3. These beneficial fatty acids reduce cholesterol deposits and improve overall heart health. In addition to this, these supplements provide several benefits such as improved joint and brain health.  

Pre-workout supplements: GNC ensures that you are able to perform to your best abilities with some of the best, clinically tested pre-workout supplements. They are loaded with nutrients like Caffeine and Carnitine that elevate focus and boost your energy levels to ensure that you are able to push yourself harder at the gym each time.