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A RED meat nutrient sold as a supplement for weight loss and muscle growth may damage the heart and arteries, research suggests.
Capsules of L-carnitine are widely available in health food stores and online.
They are advertised as a fat-burning slimming aid and powerful muscle builder – and are also said to help people with heart conditions.
But research indicates a link between L-carnitine and heart disease. It may be a key reason why eating too much red meat can damage the heart, say experts.
Bacteria
The studies show L-carnitine is broken down by gut bacteria to produce a potentially harmful compound, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).
Scientists found that high levels of L-carnitine in the blood were associated with heart disease, but only in people with raised TMAO.
Omnivorous people were found to produce more TMAO than vegetarians after taking L-carnitine.
This suggests that, as well as containing L-carnitine, red meat favours the growth of gut bacteria that use the nutrient as an energy source, said the researchers.
Article Source: http://www.herald.ie/news/red-meat-capsules-may-harm-the-heart-29181241.html
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