Acute L-carnitine supplementation does not improve Crossfit® performance: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study

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.