Definition of "carnitine" [carnitine]

• A betaine commonly occurring in the liver and in skeletal muscle that functions in fatty acid transport across mitochondrial membranes. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "L-carnitine is a nutrient that is involved in fat transport and metabolism."
• "In addition, analysis of the mitochondrial lipid transport enzyme known as carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 CPT1 revealed increased fat transferred into the mitochondria to be utilized more efficiently for energy and reduced oxidative damage in the presence of astaxanthin."
• "Within limits, either lowered fat intake or increased vitamin E intake will bring about the same improvement in blood chemistry, and either decreasing the amount of sugar in the diet or increasing the amount of a nutrient called carnitine will lower undesirable blood chemicals called triglycerides."