# L-carnitine

levocarnitine · Carnitor

https://graded.pl/en/substances/l-carnitine · Checked: Not yet

Preliminary version. The editors have not finished checking this card, and grades may change.

A compound that helps carry fats to where cells burn them for energy. Levocarnitine is a medicine for carnitine deficiency. Injections for weight loss or performance are a different use.

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## Short answers

### Does L-carnitine work?

A compound that helps carry fats to where cells burn them for energy. Levocarnitine is a medicine for carnitine deficiency. Injections for weight loss or performance are a different use. Fat loss: grade C, conflicting results. Results differ. One study found no change in overweight women, while pooled analyses report a small loss, about 1.33 kg in one. These are studies of supplements, not injections.

### Is L-carnitine legal?

PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no levocarnitine medicine in Poland, but does in 11 EU countries (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down. This covers medicines, not supplements. EU: Approved medicine. No EU-wide approval. Levocarnitine is approved separately in 11 EU countries, as injections in several, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). The database does not confirm use for weight loss. US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine (levocarnitine).

### Is L-carnitine banned in sport?

Not on the list, WADA 2026. The substance is not on the WADA list, but drips and injections above 100 mL in 12 hours are banned, except in hospital care and medical tests.

### Is L-carnitine safe?

Well known. The US label lists severe allergic reactions. Gut bacteria turn carnitine into TMAO, which a study in mice and people linked to clogged arteries. Neither source describes injections for weight loss.

## What studies show

| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat loss | C | Conflicting results | Results differ. One study found no change in overweight women, while pooled analyses report a small loss, about 1.33 kg in one. These are studies of supplements, not injections. |

## Studies we have read

- Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysis. (Clinical nutrition ESPEN 2020; Pooled analysis, n=2292) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32359762/
- The effect of (L-)carnitine on weight loss in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity 2016; Pooled analysis) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27335245/
- Effect of L-carnitine supplementation in comparison with moderate aerobic training on serum inflammatory parameters in healthy obese women. (The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness 2015; Random groups) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25600905/
- Orlistat and L-carnitine compared to orlistat alone on insulin resistance in obese diabetic patients. (Endocrine journal 2010; Random groups) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20683173/
- L-Carnitine supplementation combined with aerobic training does not promote weight loss in moderately obese women. (International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism 2000; Random groups, n=36) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10861338/

## Is it legal

- PL: No approval. The European medicines database (EMA) lists no levocarnitine medicine in Poland, but does in 11 EU countries (9 October 2026). The Polish register was down. This covers medicines, not supplements. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/article-57-product-data_en.xlsx (Checked: Not yet)
- EU: Approved medicine. No EU-wide approval. Levocarnitine is approved separately in 11 EU countries, as injections in several, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece (European medicines database, EMA, 9 October 2026). The database does not confirm use for weight loss. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/article-57-product-data_en.xlsx (Checked: Not yet)
- US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine (levocarnitine). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=076858 (Checked: Not yet)

## Doping

Not on the list, WADA 2026. https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/trb-2026-25.html

## How much research exists

- Scientific papers: 508
- Studies with random groups: 43
- Registered studies in people: 314
- These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.

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Open data: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/