Carnitine therapy for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease: Evidence and controversies

As the incidence of metabolic syndrome increases, there is also a growing interest in finding safe and inexpensive treatments to help lower associated risk factors. l-carntine, a natural dietary supplement with the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis, has been the subject of recent investigation and controversy. A majority of studies have shown benefit of l-C supplementation in the metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular risk factors. However, recent work has suggested that dietary l-C may accelerate atherosclerosis via gut microbiota metabolites, complicating the role of l-C supplementation in health.