The Best Carnitine Supplements for Athletes, Fat Burn, and More

While carnitine isn’t considered an essential amino acid (meaning one that we can’t synthesize in our body), carnitine is still a very important amino acid. Many people include it as a crucial part of their supplement regimen for the potential improvements in post-workout recovery and fat burn. You’ll also find carnitine in many pre-workout supplements for a potential energy boost. It’s possible that it may have applications for longevity too, but what makes a good carnitine supplement? (1) 

There are different forms of carnitine where it’s bound with other ingredients for potentially better absorption. The most common form is Carnipure™, which is l-carnitine l-tartrate, but you may also see the pure molecular form of l-carnitine by itself in products. (2) Carnitine comes in a variety of doses. Common dose sizes range from 200mg to 1,000mg per serving, but often, you’ll see around 500mg per serving. (2) When a product is as popular as carnitine and there is such a wide variety of options on the market, it can be hard to determine which is right for you. We’ve put together this list of the best carnitine supplements for various people and purposes.

Best Carnitine Supplements

• Best Carnitine Overall: Transparent Labs POST
• Best Fat-Burner with Carnitine: Transparent Labs Fat Burner Stim-Free
• Best Carnitine Supplement for Recovery: Legion Recharge
• Best Carnitine Capsules: NOW Supplements L-Carnitine
• Best Carnitine For Athletes: Legion Recharge
• Best Carnitine-Only Supplement: Kaged L-Carnitine
• Best Bulk Carnitine: BulkSupplements ALCAR HCl
• Best Tested Carnitine: Nutricost Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR)

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.

Best Carnitine Supplement Overall

The top carnitine product needs to check all the right boxes. It has to be cost-effective, properly dosed, and worth the price. Transparent Labs POST ticks all those boxes, and more.

Transparent Labs POST

POST is a complete post-workout formula intended to aid in recovery and muscle growth with a blend of six ingredients. Each scoop has a solid dose of 2,000mg of l-carnitine l-tartrate as well as 5,000mg of glutamine — both of which are meant to help you potentially recover and grow muscle better. You also have 2,500mg of betaine and 2,000mg of beta-alanine, which may help with blood flow and getting nutrients to your muscles.

Rounding out the formula is 500mg of tart cherry to potentially fight muscle soreness and fatigue, and 25mg of Astragin™, which may aid in improving lean muscle and athletic performance. You can grab a 30-serving container in three flavors — Black Cherry, Strawberry Lemonade, or Orange — for about $49.99 (around $1.67 per serving). This is more expensive than some other options on this list but provides a much more robust formula, so we’re big fans.

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs POST

• Those who want a carnitine supplement that comes with extras to potentially support recovery even more.
• Anyone looking for a powder that’s available in multiple flavors. Many carnitine powders only come in one flavor while this one has three.
• People who are interested in both burning fat and gaining muscle will appreciate this formula, which has ingredients that may support both.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs POST

• If you prefer a formula that is solely carnitine you may want to check out other options on this list. 
• Those who are looking for a carnitine pill. This is a powdered supplement.
• Anyone looking for the most cost-effective carnitine will want to look at the other options here.

If you’re looking for a carnitine source that has other pre-workout and recovery-oriented ingredients, this is the formula for you. You may be able to have your cake and eat it too with POST thanks to the ingredients focused on both fat burning and muscle building.

[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]

Best Fat Burner with Carnitine

Many people take carnitine supplements in order to help aid them in their weight loss journey. That’s why a lot of companies have started to introduce carnitine supplements with other fat burning ingredients included. If you’re looking for a carnitine supplement that also packs a fat-burning punch, this pick has you covered.

Transparent Labs Fat Burner Stim-Free

Many carnitine products contain ingredients that may help with increasing muscle mass, like creatine. This product goes the other route, including ingredients that can help you burn more fat without the addition of stimulants — like caffeine. This product contains 750mg of acetyl l-carnitine, which may make fat more easily available to be burned.

Transparent Labs also includes forskolin and cayenne pepper, which can help to burn fat and increase metabolism, too. This product is packaged in capsules with a recommended serving size of two capsules twice daily, both times 30 to 60 minutes before a meal. Transparent Labs designed this to potentially help boost your metabolism without extra stimulants to aid in reaching your body composition goals.

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Fat Burner Stim-Free

• Folks who want a full fat burner supplement will like that this product contains other ingredients that can potentially help with fat burn outside of carnitine. 
• If you’re looking to start out by taking a lower dose of carnitine, this product offers 750mg per serving, which is lower than other products. You can increase the amount gradually over time.
• Those who prefer taking capsules rather than a powder will like this supplement.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Fat Burner Stim-Free

• Athletes who want to drink their carnitine should opt for a powder supplement on this list. 
• If you’re looking for a high dose of carnitine, you can find doses that are more than double what you will get with this supplement. 

This fat burner contains carnitine, forskolin, 5-HTP, and cayenne pepper, all of which may be able to help you during a cutting phase — this is great if you’re looking for more of a fat burning boost along with your carnitine.

Best Carnitine Supplement for Recovery

Carnitine is probably best known as a weight management supplement, but a lot of post-workout products include it for its potential to aid in recovery from workouts. If you’re looking for a carnitine supplement for recovery purposes, this pick is the way to go.

Legion Recharge

Legion Recharge is a carnitine supplement within a post-workout drink that can potentially help with recovery and muscle soreness. Not only does this supplement contain 2.1g of carnitine, but it also has 5g of micronized creatine, and 10.5mg of corosolic acid. The idea is that creatine and carnitine can potentially work together, which may help you recover better, and be ready for your next session.

It’s an ideal supplement to take just after your workouts to help maximize gains and potentially reduce soreness. It’s all-natural and contains no added sugars. Plus, it comes in four different flavors — Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Grape, and Strawberry Lemonade.

Who Should Buy Legion Recharge

• If you want a full post-workout supplement, you will appreciate the additional ingredients here that can potentially help with your gains. 
• Those who want a carnitine supplement that can help with recovery will like this blend of post-workout ingredients designed to reduce muscle soreness and boost recovery. 
• If you prefer a powdered carnitine supplement, this is a great option. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Recharge

• Athletes who just want a supplement that just contains carnitine should look elsewhere. 
• Anyone who wants the convenience of a capsule supp. This is a powder.

This post-workout supplement contains carnitine, creatine, and corosolic acid, which combined, can help with recovery, muscle retention, and muscle soreness after your training sessions.

Read our full review of Legion Recharge.

Best Carnitine Capsules

Sometimes taking a supplement in powder form just isn’t possible or convenient. Maybe you’re traveling or on the go often. Maybe you just don’t like taking your supplements in powder form. If that sounds like you, then carnitine capsules may be just the product to grab.

NOW Supplements L-Carnitine

If you find carnitine powders, pre-made liquid, or chalky tablets to be off-putting then a carnitine capsule may be for you. NOW Supplements offers vegetarian capsules that have 500mg of Carnipure™ l-carnitine extracted from non-animal sources — this product is vegan/vegetarian friendly.

Thanks to the simplicity of the carnitine capsules, you can regulate your dosage easily if you want a higher or lower dose each day by simply popping another capsule or taking fewer. You don’t have to worry about chewing into your supplement budget much either since each 60-capsule bottle is only about $14.66 (around $0.24 per capsule) — rather well-priced.

Who Should Buy NOW Supplements L-Carnitine

• Those who are looking for a capsule supplement that allows them to easily increase their carnitine dosage by adding another capsule will like this supplement.
• Anyone who follows a vegan or vegetarian diet. The capsule of this supplement is made of vegetable cellulose and the carnitine is non-animal sourced, which means it’s a vegetarian-friendly product.
• Folks who want a straightforward carnitine supp. This product only contains carnitine without any additional ingredients.

Who Shouldn’t Buy NOW Supplements L-Carnitine

• If you’d rather take a powder or liquid carnitine supplement, you can find other options out there.
• People who want a higher dose of carnitine without having to increase the number of capsules they are taking can find carnitine supplements that offer 1,000mg or more per single dose, though they may be more expensive.
• Anyone who wants other ingredients (like those to potentially help with pre-workout energy or fat burn) with their carnitine won’t find other inclusions here. 

This product is about as straightforward as a carnitine supplement can get with only one ingredient other than the capsule. It’s also very cost-effective and easy to modulate the dose, making it a great choice for those looking for a capsule version of carnitine.

[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]

Best Carnitine For Athletes

Athletes train hard and need to recover even harder. Sometimes you may need some help along the way with that. That’s where a carnitine supplement comes in. Not only can it potentially help with maintaining your optimal weight for competition, but it may also help you recover better with less muscle soreness for your next training session.

Legion Recharge

Legion Recharge is an ideal supplement for athletes to take post-workout to help potentially maximize gains and reduce muscle soreness. This product packs a solid dose of over two grams of l-carnitine l-tartrate in each scoop. L-carnitine has been shown to help reduce recovery times and improve muscle soreness after resistance training. (7) That’s what makes this product with a high dose of carnitine a great pick for athletes looking for a carnitine supplement.

Recharge is available in six different flavors, including unflavored, all with no artificial flavors or sweeteners. This product also has five grams of micronized creatine monohydrate, which may help improve muscular strength and power. Recharge keeps the ingredients list short and to the point — only including the necessities.

Who Should Buy Legion Recharge

• Athletes who are looking to try carnitine in combination with their workouts — it’s ideal to take this supplement after you hit the gym.
• Those who want a high dose of carnitine will like that this supp provides two grams per serving. 
• Anyone who wants more than just carnitine in their supp. This post-workout product comes with creatine and betaine as well.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Recharge

• Anyone who would prefer a capsule carnitine supplement — this is a powder.
• Folks who don’t want other performance-enhancing ingredients included in their supplement. You can find other supplements on this list that are just carnitine. 

If you’re an athlete looking to drop a few pounds or stay focused in the gym, carnitine might help. This particular supplement provides a large 2.1g dose of carnitine and other potentially helpful ingredients that you can take post-workout, like creatine and corosolic acid.

Best Carnitine-Only Supplement

So you’re looking for a carnitine supplement, but just want carnitine by itself. It can be difficult to find a high-quality supplement that’s just the one ingredient you want. If that’s the case, we’ve got what you’re looking for with this carnitine-only supplement that comes in a convenient capsule form.

Kaged L-Carnitine

Many carnitine supplements can contain other helpful ingredients (such as creatine, or even a full line-up of pre-workout ingredients). This is a great option for those who just want carnitine. Kaged L-Carnitine contains 500mg of carnitine per each one-capsule serving, and that’s it.

While this dose is on the lower side, if you want a higher dose, you can take two capsules instead of just one. This product is also vegetarian as its capsule is made from a plant-based vegetable cellulose. Plus, it’s fairly inexpensive when compared across the market.

Who Should Buy Kaged L-Carnitine

• Folks who want a carnitine supplement that just contains carnitine will like this product. 
• Anyone who prefers to take capsules over a powder. Kaged L-Carnitine is one capsule per dose. 
• Vegetarians who want a capsule that’s made of plant-based cellulose.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Kaged L-Carnitine

• If you’re looking for a more robust ingredient list, you can find products that contain other potentially helpful fat-loss and muscle-building ingredients. 
• For those who prefer a powder supp, there are other picks on this list that may better suit you.

This is a great, minimal option if you’re looking for a carnitine supplement, and don’t want it to be bogged down with other ingredients you may already have in your regimen.

Best Bulk Carnitine

Buying things in bulk can be cheaper and more convenient than buying in smaller quantities. Bodybuilders know this all too well as they can be seen regularly buying rice by the cart full. If you’re in the market for a bulk carnitine product, our top pick here might be the one you’ve been searching for.

BulkSupplements ALCAR HCL

Buy bulk, save cash, at least if you’re really taking a lot of carnitine. BulkSupplements is indeed the best way to buy up to a thousand servings of carnitine at once, and the quality is superb: it contains absolutely nothing but acetyl l-carnitine.

Additionally, this carnitine supplement is tested both in-house and by a third party to ensure quality, and it’s made in a facility free from major allergens. Each serving provides a solid dose of 600mg of pure acetyl l-carnitine.

Who Should Buy BulkSupplements ALCAR HCl

• Anyone who needs to buy an extremely large quantity of carnitine all at once.
• People happy to have their supplements thoroughly tested in-house and by a third party for purity.
• Folks looking for a pure carnitine supplement.

Who Shouldn’t Buy BulkSupplements.com ALCAR HCl

• Anyone who doesn’t have a separate container large enough to store all the carnitine.
• Those who can’t stand the sour taste of pure carnitine.

One of the recurring issues that arise with BulkSupplements is the lack of resealability of the bags their supplements come in. That has the potential to endanger the freshness of the carnitine in the long term, so it is likely best to transfer the powder to a different container. Although that might be tedious, the trade-off is getting a huge amount of product for a very low price per serving.

Best Tested Carnitine 

All of the products that we include on our lists are high-quality and well-reviewed. Some companies decide to go above and beyond the norm and test their products comprehensively, including third-party testing for each batch of product made. Our top pick for best tested carnitine is from one of those companies.

Nutricost Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR)

Acetyl l-carnitine may cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively than l-carnitine, and Nutricost provides some of the best supplements on the market. (14) A big standout is that the product is third party tested, plus one little tub provides a considerable 500 servings of one gram each. This pure acetyl l-carnitine product provides 1,00mg of ALCAR per scoop, allowing you to modify the amount you take easily either up or down.

The other notable standout detail about Nutricost is they provide pure carnitine. There are absolutely no other ingredients included — a huge boon for athletes who want to know exactly the amount of every supplement they’re consuming.

Who Should Buy Nutricost Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR)

• Those who appreciate extensive third-party testing for product purity.
• Anyone who wants to avoid all ingredients that are not carnitine.
• People who want the most bang for their buck. With 500 doses per tub, this is only a few cents per serving.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Nutricost Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR)

• Those who won’t be able to take all 500 servings before they expire.
• Anyone who is unable to pallet the strong sour taste of pure carnitine.

If you value supplements that have been third-party tested, this product from Nutricost will not disappoint. It’s also difficult to beat the value of this product as each serving only costs around a dime.

Benefits of Carnitine Supplements

Carnitine has the potential to help with many aspects of athletic performance, like muscle retention, recovery, soreness, and energy. This supplement has also been studied for improving longevity, as well as potentially increasing fat burn. (3) Whether you’re looking for more energy, help with fat burn, or better recovery, we break down the potential for carnitine to help with each of these aspects of training below.

Energy and Longevity

Carnitine can help your mitochondria function and produce energy. Carnitine is a chemical made in the brain, liver, and kidneys that can help your body transport fatty acids to the mitochondria, which can then turn them into usable energy. Supplementing with carnitine may help improve mitochondrial function. Since mitochondria are key in regulating immunity and aging, healthy mitochondria can help promote both immunity and longevity. (1)(2)

Fat Loss

Carnitine seems to help move more fatty acids into your cells to be used for energy, so there’s a popular theory that it can be useful as a weight loss supplement. Human studies are mixed, though — some analyses saw significant weight loss, particularly among obese or older adults, while others saw none. (3)(4) More research is needed, particularly in young subjects.

Better Muscle

Carnitine, particularly the form called L-Carnitine L-Tartrate, may help to reduce muscle damage experienced during exercise. (5)(6)(7) This research used doses of two grams per day. There’s also research suggesting that carnitine helps build and retain lean muscle among the elderly, but there’s not a lot of evidence on young, healthy folks. (8)(9)

Better Cardio Workouts

Two to four grams of carnitine per day — a fairly high dosage for most — has seen an increase in anaerobic output, meaning short bouts of high-intensity exercise. (10)(11) Short bouts of high-intensity exercise include activities, like sprints and HIIT workouts.

Sperm Quality

High doses of carnitine — two or three grams daily — appears to increase sperm quality with regard to sperm morphology. (12) Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape, and appearance of sperm. Abnormal morphology can contribute to infertility, so this is especially helpful for those who may be trying to conceive.

How We Chose the Best Carnitine Supplements

There are so many carnitine supplements on the market, and we want to ensure we’re always recommending only the best products. Price can vary widely from $20 up to $60 per container and beyond for carnitine supplements, so it’s essential to consider the cost per serving. There are other things to consider, as well, like added ingredients, such as caffeine or various vitamins. We also look at the molecular form of carnitine that the supplement provides in addition to the serving size required to receive an adequate dose.

Cost

Let’s start with the obvious decision influencer: price per serving. Of course, the less expensive products will rank higher on our list assuming the number of servings is equal. Like most supplements, buying in bulk can save a lot of coin, but it runs the risk of the product expiring before use. If you’re training for a powerlifting meet, calibrate how many servings you intend to take during your training period working on those squats and deadlifts, and try to line up with a product that offers that requisite number of servings.

Added Ingredients

Not all carnitine supplements are made equal. Of course, dosages will vary from product to product, but some products will also include other ingredients that may or may not be appealing to you. Some examples are added vitamin B or calcium.

If you’re in the market for boosts of the additional ingredient included, then you hit a nice little jackpot. However, if you’re not, there are plenty of pure carnitine options on the market. Just keep in mind that pure carnitine has a sour taste that may not be palatable for some users.

Form

This will come down to preference, but are you looking for a capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid? There are plenty of each on the market, each with their own pros and cons. Liquids are pretty easy to flavor without bogging down with a bunch of unnecessary sweeteners. Powders are usually the easiest way to get pure carnitine. Capsules and tablets might be easier or more efficient to consume for some customers but there is often a number of added ingredients added to make the tablet or capsule. If you have a preference for how you consume supplements, there are luckily options on the market likely to line up with that.

[Related: 10 Kinds Of Creatine And What They All Mean]

How Much Do Carnitine Supplements Cost?

Carnitine is one of the most cost-effective supplements on the market with many of the options coming in much cheaper than pre-workouts or other products. That said, the serving sizes are generally too small for a truly noticeable effect, so many people, especially those already used to taking carnitine, will have to take an extra serving or two to realize carnitine’s potentially beneficial effects. 

Best Carnitine Overall	Transparent Labs POST	$49.99 Per serving: $1.67
Best Fat-Burner with Carnitine	Transparent Labs Fat Burner Stim-Free	$54.99 Per serving: $0.92
Best Carnitine Supplement for Recovery	Legion Recharge	$39.99 Per serving: $1.33
Best Carnitine Capsules	NOW Supplements L-Carnitine	$15.99 Per serving: $0.27
Best Carnitine for Athletes	Legion Recharge	$39.99 Per serving: $1.33
Best Carnitine-Only Supplement	Kaged L-Carnitine	$23.99 Per serving: $0.09
Best Bulk Carnitine	BulkSupplements ALCAR HCl	$22.96 Per serving: $0.06
Best Tested Carnitine	Nutricost Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR)	$49.95 Per serving: $0.10

Assuming that you’re taking the serving size and dosage recommended by the manufacturer, carnitine supplements are an easy addition to your current stack. A bottle will cost around $20 to $50 depending on the servings it contains and the other ingredients included. Purely carnitine products generally cost only a few cents per serving while more comprehensive formulas can be more expensive. Common carnitines range from $0.05 to $1.50 per serving, so you can add this to your daily regimen for a relatively cheap cost.

What to Consider Before Buying Carnitine Supplements

Since each customer comes to the market with different needs, it’s important to consider your personal goals before scouring the web or scanning shelves at your local supplement shop. Here are a few considerations we would make before buying. 

Type of Carnitine 

There are several forms of carnitine. L-carnitine is typical, but among others, there’s also d-carnitine (which seems to limit your absorption of more usable carnitine, so it may be best to avoid), l-carnitine l-tartrate (perhaps most common in sports supplements as it absorbs quickly) and acetyl-L-carnitine, which is almost identical to regular carnitine but it’s been acetylated, so it may cross the blood-brain barrier more efficiently. (13)(14)(15)

Dosage

A pretty typical dosage is 250 to 500 milligrams twice per day, though a lot of the research mentioned above used two to three grams a day. It’s usually recommended to start with a lower dose and work your way up, as carnitine can sometimes cause nausea if consumed in higher doses.

It’s ideal to buy a supplement with a flexible dosage, meaning you can take single or multiple capsules a day (versus buying a product that provides only a high dosage in a single capsule).

Lifestyle

For your body to produce plenty of its own carnitine, it appears to be important to eat plenty of vitamin C. (16) Before starting any supplement, it’s important to be consuming a healthy diet of whole foods and implementing regular exercise in your routine. If you’re not healthy outside of your supplementation, no supplement is going to be a cure-all. 

Carnitine in Other Supplements

Carnitine is found in a variety of supplements — not just carnitine-only products. It can often be found in pre-workout supplements where it can help provide energy, or post-workout supplements where it may improve recovery. You can also find carnitine in fat burners to potentially help with fat oxidation. We break down carnitine’s inclusion in each of these products below.

Carnitine in Pre-Workout Supplements

Some pre-workout supplements will contain carnitine. Usually, carnitine is combined with other weight management supplements, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), or stimulants, like caffeine. You can also commonly find ingredients like creatine and beta-alanine. Almost all of these supplements will come in a powder or liquid form.

In addition to its potentially weight loss properties, there is evidence that carnitine can be a potent strength-enhancing supplement — another reason you will find it in pre-workouts. Researchers saw improvements in both strength and aerobic capacity when subjects were given two grams of carnitine per day over a nine-week period. (19)

Carnitine in Post-Workout Supplements

You’ll find carnitine in many post-workout and recovery shakes too, either by itself or as part of a proprietary blend. The reason carnitine is included in post-workout supplements is thanks to its potential to improve recovery from exercise. (20)

Additionally, supplementing with carnitine after resistance training has shown possible improvements in muscle mass, reduction in fat mass, and increased mental and physical energy. (21) Other ingredients that you’ll commonly find in these supplements that work together with carnitine are carbohydrates, protein, occasionally creatine, and other amino acids.

Carnitine in Fat Burners

Many fat burners on the market include carnitine for its fat-burning properties. (21) Supplementing with just l-carnitine has been shown to reduce fat mass in adults, and even more in those who are considered overweight or obese. (22)

Carnitine can also help to increase energy expenditure and prevent body fat accumulation, which is why it’s included in so many fat-burning supplements. (23) Other common ingredients in fat burners that you’ll find with carnitine are stimulants like caffeine, guarana, and green tea leaf extract. These supplements also commonly include CLA, forskolin, and grains of paradise, which can also aid in fat burning.

Final Word

Carnitine comes in many forms and can help with fat loss, muscle retention, brain function, and even sperm health. However, more than anything, it’s imperative that you speak with a physician before making any additions to your nutrition and supplement regimen. Carnitine in particular can cause nausea and other unwanted side effects if it’s not used properly.

If you’ve spoken to a physician, follow a healthy diet, and exercise regularly, carnitine can be a helpful addition to your supplement regimen for its potential to turn fatty acids into energy, boost memory and focus, help with short bursts of cardio, and more. Many carnitine supplements are pretty straightforward, but a little direction can be helpful when digging through a lot of options on the market — let this list be your guide.

FAQs

References

1. Karlic, H., & Lohninger, A. (2004). Supplementation of L-carnitine in athletes: does it make sense?. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 20(7-8), 709–715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2004.04.003
2. Sahin, K., Orhan, C., Kucuk, O., Sahin, N., Tuzcu, M., Er, B., Durkee, S., & Bellamine, A. (2020). A Dose-Dependent Effect of Carnipure® Tartrate Supplementation on Endurance Capacity, Recovery, and Body Composition in an Exercise Rat Model. Nutrients, 12(5), 1519. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051519
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