acyl carnitine

Acyl carnitine is a compound formed when a fatty acid attaches to carnitine. Carnitine itself is a water-soluble, vitamin-like compound related to amino acids, essential for growth in some organisms and present in muscle and liver tissue of higher animals.1

The primary role of acyl carnitine is in the transport of fatty acids. Fatty acids are a crucial energy source, especially during prolonged starvation. Before fatty acids can be metabolized for energy within the mitochondria, they must be transported across the mitochondrial membrane. This transport is facilitated by carnitine, which binds to the fatty acid to form acyl carnitine. Acyl carnitine can then cross the mitochondrial membrane, where it releases the fatty acid for oxidation.2

Defects in carnitine transport or the enzymes involved can lead to fatty acid oxidation disorders. These can cause severe health issues, including brain, liver, and heart damage, and are particularly dangerous for infants.3