The amazing amino acid L-Carnitine performs many functions including producing energy from the fat we eat.   It is made from the essential amino acids L-lysine and methionine.  Carnitine needs vitamins B3, B6, C and iron to work.  Eating a lot of fat, an unhealthy gut and some disease states require a higher level of carnitine.  If you are a vegetarian, you may be deficient since the best food source of carnitine is dark meat.

How can you know if you have enough carnitine? 

Spectracell Laboratories offers an intracellular functional nutritional test including carnitine as one of the 33 nutrients measured.  Nutrients are measured by lymphocyte growth response under optimal conditions.  A measurement of carnitine at or just below 20% is borderline; over 20% is considered normal.  No toxicity of L-carnitine supplementation has been reported so if you are struggling with weight loss LemonAid® may help.