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Acute L-Carnitine Supplementation Does Not Improve CrossFit® Performance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

Devrim-Lanpir, Asli orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-4267-9950 (2025) Acute L-Carnitine Supplementation Does Not Improve CrossFit® Performance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients, 17 . p. 2784. ISSN 2072-6643

Abstract
Background: L-carnitine supplementation is thought to enhance exercise performance, particularly in moderate and high-intensity activities, but evidence supporting this is mixed. This study aimed to assess whether acute L-carnitine tartrate supplementation could improve CrossFit® performance, specifically during the “Cindy” workout, a high-intensity exercise protocol. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, 20 trained male recreational CrossFit® athletes completed the “Cindy” workout within a 20 min period after ingesting either 3 g of L-carnitine tartrate or a placebo 90 min before exercise. Performance was measured by total repetitions completed. Secondary outcomes included ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), gastrointestinal issues, and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Results: The results showed that L-carnitine supplementation did not significantly affect the number of repetitions performed (202.4 ± 69.9 vs. 204.5 ± 78.8, p = 0.810) compared to the placebo. There were also no significant differences in RPE (6.3 ± 1.5 vs. 6.9 ± 1.4, p = 0.180) or BP changes between groups. However, 10% of participants reported difficulty sleeping after L-carnitine supplementation. Conclusions: The findings suggest that 3 g of L-carnitine tartrate does not enhance CrossFit® performance in recreational athletes. Further research is needed to clarify its potential benefits, especially with larger samples and consideration of factors like sex and carbohydrate co-ingestion.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:L-carnitine; CrossFit®; exercise performance; high-intensity training; supplementation
Subjects:Medical Sciences > Exercise
Medical Sciences > Sports sciences
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Health and Human Performance
Publisher:MDPI AG
Official URL:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/17/2784
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:31586
Deposited On:29 Sep 2025 13:14 by Gordon Kennedy . Last Modified 29 Sep 2025 13:14
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