L-carnitine is a supplemental amino acid (ingredient) commonly found in low-fat, light or so-called diet foods for both dogs and cats. For the most part, the body produces an adequate amount of carnitine (L-isomer metabolite) to fulfill its role in the conversion of fatty acids into usable energy. So, what do we know about supplemental L-carnitine? Does adding it to the diet benefit weight control?
Though L-carnitine may be a relatively new ingredient to most petfood purchasers, carnitine has been recognized for more than a century. It was first isolated from meat extracts (thus the Latin prefix carni) in 1905 and a few years later was shown to be a growth factor for the meal worm (Tenebria molitor) for which it was subsequently branded vitamin BT. Given that most mammals are able to produce carnitine in sufficient quantities, it never became a full-fledged vitamin. However, there are times when it may be beneficial or even conditionally essential.
