L-carnitine: General Facts (JM)

Question 1

What is the molecular formula of L-carnitine and what is its molecular weight?

Answer 1

Molecular Formula: C₇H₁₅NO₃

Molecular Weight: 161.2 g/mol

Question 2

How much carnitine does the healthy adult consume each day?

Answer 2

2-5 mg/kg BW/day

Source: Borum PR. Carnitine in parenteral nutrition. Gastroenterology 2009;137:S129-34

Question 3

In healthy adults, how much carnitine is consumed in the diet per day? How much carnitine is biosynthesized per day?

Answer 3

Under normal conditions, approximately 300 umol carnitine per day are ingested by the diet (approximately 50 mg) and 100 umol carnitine (approximately 20 mg) are biosynthesized