title: Studies concerning chronic and acute effects of L-carnitina in elite athletes.
abstract: Chronic and acute effects of L-Carnitina (vials of 1 g L-Carnitina endovenous; per orally administered vials of 1 g L-Carnitina; tablets of 1 g L-Carnitina) were recorded in 110 top athletes (rowing, kayak-canoe, swimming, weightlifting medium and long-distance runners), 47 girls and 63 boys, by six double blind placebo trials and cross over. Significant changes were registered after L-Carnitina treatment (both for a single dose or after 3 weeks of treatment) compared to placebo, for FFA, triglycenides, lactic acid after exercise, evoked muscular potential, plasma carnitine (free and acetyl-carnitine), urine carnitine (free carnitine) and others. The authors explain these changes by the increase of free carnitine, which permits a larger quantity of FFA to enter the mitochondria and to be more extensively used as energy source in endurance and strength efforts. Based on these results the authors recommend L-Carnitina as an ergogenic aid in elite athletes, especially in endurance and strength sports.
authors.affiliation: Sports Polyclinic, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Drăgan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasiliu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Georgescu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eremia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000652:urine; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007773:Lactates; D009088:Mucoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002331:Carnitine