When you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome your body has a lot of trouble producing energy. A lot of us take supplements to help give us an energy boost.
One popular supplement is carnitine. About 6 months ago, I wrote about starting it and have a noticeable increase in energy. A reader suggested an update down the road to see if it continued to work for me, because so many of us see effects drop off over time. I thought it was a great idea.
For me, carnitine does still seem to be working. My energy level has stayed pretty consistent since I started it, even through a couple of new health challenges.
I wouldn’t say that carnitine is well studied, but it does have some scientific evidence behind its use. We know that it helps your cells produce energy by breaking down fat. (It’s sometimes used for weight loss, but sadly I haven’t experienced this.) In fibromyalgia studies, it’s been shown to lower pain levels and improve mental health. In chronic fatigue syndrome, it’s been shown to lessen fatigue.
My pain level was low when I started carnitine, so I can’t really say whether it’s helped there or not. I do know that my pain is less likely to flare in response to getting sick or having new sources of pain, but I don’t know whether that’s because of the carnitine.
I consider carnitine one of my most important supplements, so I’m really hoping it continues to work for me.
Here’s more information on carnitine, including typical dosages, side effects, and what foods it’s in:
It’s important to know certain things before starting supplements. Get started the right way, here:
Have you taken carnitine? How did it work for you? Are you still taking it? Leave your comments below!
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Carnitine for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome originally appeared on About.com Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 06:00:33.
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