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Risk assessment for carnitine.

John N Hathcock¹, Andrew Shao

¹Council for Responsible Nutrition, 1828 L St., NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036-5114, USA. jhathcock@crnusa.org

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology : RTP

|August 12, 2006

Summary

Carnitine supplementation is popular for weight loss and sports nutrition. Research indicates safety up to 2000mg daily for chronic use, but long-term safety above this level requires more data.

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Area of Science:

Nutritional biochemistry
Metabolic health
Supplement safety

Background:

Carnitine facilitates fatty acid transport for energy production.
It's a common ingredient in weight loss and sports supplements.
Clinical trials investigate its effects on weight and energy.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety of carnitine supplementation.
To determine a safe upper intake level based on current evidence.

Main Methods:

Systematic evaluation of clinical trial data.
Application of Observed Safe Level (OSL) risk assessment.
Analysis of safety data at various intake levels.

Main Results:

The Observed Safe Level (OSL) for chronic carnitine supplementation is 2000mg/day.
Evidence supports safety at intakes up to this OSL.
Data for intakes exceeding 2000mg/day are insufficient for confident long-term safety conclusions.

Conclusions:

Carnitine is safe for chronic supplementation up to 2000mg/day.
Higher intakes require further research to establish long-term safety.
The OSL method provides a basis for risk assessment of dietary supplements.

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