carnitine

American  

[kahr-ni-teen] / ˈkɑr nɪˌtin /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a dipolar compound that occurs in muscle and liver and is involved in the transport of fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane.

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carnitine Scientific  

/ kär′nĭ-tēn′ /

1. A betaine commonly occurring in the liver and in skeletal muscle that is essential for fatty acid transport across mitochondrial membranes. Chemical formula: C ₇ H ₁₅ NO ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of carnitine

1920–25; < German Carnitin, equivalent to Latin carni- (combining form of carō, genitive carnis meat, flesh) + -tin apparently arbitrarily chosen suffix ( cf. -in ², -ine ²); so called because it was first isolated in meat extract

Example Sentences

For example, they found that generalists are more likely to be able to synthesize carnitine, a molecule that is involved in energy production and often sold as an exercise supplement.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2024

By pairing caffeine with other buzzy active ingredients like ginseng, carnitine, creatine and ginkgo biloba, they position these drinks as enhancers of mental alertness and concentration, too.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2024

Still, it is possible that enhancing carnitine might be good for certain activities while depleting it might be better for sudden energy bursts.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2016

This fatty acyl CoA combines with carnitine to create a fatty acyl carnitine molecule, which helps to transport the fatty acid across the mitochondrial membrane.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Sigman, whose research found no improvement in semen quality with the antioxidant carnitine, was cautious about making too much of the review's results.

From Reuters • Jan. 20, 2011