Do you drink energy drinks? If yes, check the ingredient list on your next bottle for L-carnitine. Here is why: The debate is heating up on the safety and benefits of L-carnitine, an amino that the body can make or get from foods e.g. red meat and dairy products. Now L-carnitine is showing up more in supplements and energy drinks and is marketed for weight loss, fatigue, muscle growth, etc. Don't get caught up in the hype by relying on L-carnitine supplements to increase endurance and athletic performance. The body usually makes all the L-carnitine it needs, even in vegetarians and vegans. Research of L-carnitine supplements has yielded inconsistent results. Even though there are some data showing L-carnitine supplementation can increase levels of carnitine in skeletal muscles, there is NO proof it can help improve athletic performance or endurance in healthy individuals. As for risk, L-carnitine can be metabolized by bacteria in the gut to a substance called TMAO(trimethylamine-N-oxide) which plays a role in atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque inside the blood vessels leading to hardening of arteries and heart disease). Check back for updates as we will continue to follow the research on this widely used supplement !