Elderly people have a lower energy demand and eating habits change with age. For example, they usually consume less meat. At the same time, the dietary intake of both L-Carnitine and the nutrients required to make L-Carnitine is reduced. A decreased endogenous synthesis could also be shown by researchers. A decrease of L-Carnitine in various body compartments with age has often been described in literature. The resulting reduction in energy metabolism due to lower L-Carnitine levels can be restored by L-Carnitine supplementation.
Studies: (REFERENCES)
- L-carnitine supplementation and physical exercise restore age-associated decline in some mitochondrial functions in the rat: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18948552
- Dietary l-carnitine supplementation improves bone mineral density by suppressing bone turnover in aged ovariectomized rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18539446
- L-carnitine increases liver alpha-tocopherol and lowers liver and plasma triglycerides in aging ovariectomized rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17368883
- Dietary L-carnitine enhances the lymphatic absorption of fat and alpha-tocopherol in ovariectomized rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15795429
- Dietary l-carnitine stimulates carnitine acyltransferases in the liver of aged rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11799139
- The effect of L-carnitine on T-maze learning ability in aged rats: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11395170
- L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects biochemical markers of recovery from physical exertion in middle-aged men and women: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20045157