Can “L-carnitine coffee” help you lose weight healthily?

As a weight loss product, the effect of "L-carnitine coffee" is not reliable.

L-carnitine is an amino acid that can be synthesized by the human body. Its main function is to help cells transport fatty acids to mitochondria for oxidation and decomposition to release energy. Although L-carnitine is theoretically related to fat metabolism, its actual help in weight loss is very limited.

First of all, the human body can obtain L-carnitine through meat foods, and its own synthesis ability is sufficient to meet the needs, so most people are not deficient.

Second, although there is research suggesting that additional L-carnitine supplementation may help improve performance and endurance during intense exercise, this effect is weak and would be negligible for the general population.

In terms of safety, although L-carnitine is generally considered safe, high-dose intake may cause discomfort such as nausea and vomiting, and may also affect the smell of urine, sweat, and breath.

In addition, relevant studies have shown that L-carnitine may produce substances that are harmful to the cardiovascular system under the action of intestinal bacteria, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. As for the weight loss effect, high-quality studies and meta-analyses have shown that L-carnitine has little effect on reducing weight, and it is mainly effective in particularly obese people and the elderly.

For most people, L-carnitine is of little help in losing weight. If someone feels that they have a weight loss effect after taking L-carnitine products, they need to be alert to the possibility that banned drugs may be added to the products in violation of regulations. Therefore, it is unrealistic to rely on "L-carnitine coffee" to achieve healthy weight loss.

The truly effective way to lose weight is to eat regularly, exercise moderately and control total calorie intake. If you need to lose weight, it is recommended to adopt a scientific and healthy lifestyle and seek guidance from a professional nutritionist or doctor if necessary.

Author | Master of Doubao Food Processing and Safety

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center