Supplements

Submitted by katygal on July 29, 2008 - 4:35pm
Body: 

Hi, has anyone taken L-carnitine? My nutrition book recommends it, says it's helpful for strengthening the uterine muscles. I just ordered some and want to give it a try. I have a mild or small cystocele now but I also have mitral valve prolapse in my heart, which apparently responds very well to L-carnitine supplementation, as well as another beneign 'floppy thing' in my heart, as my cardiologist says, so it makes me wonder if I'm deficient in L-carnitine. I also read that L-carnitine levels drop severely in the body about 12 weeks gestation, and continues to be very low throughout lactation (I am breastfeeding my 6 month old now) and as we age. The only good food sources of it are beef and dairy, and I was strictly avoiding those two foods as I discovered a mild allergy to them, at the time that this prolapse presented itself to me, and it just makes me wonder......my book says vegetarians are highly likely to have a deficiency. I have also avoided most dairy for almost 15 years now.

Anyway, anybody heard of this? Taken this?

Thanks.

katygal

discouraged

August 3, 2008 - 1:44pm

discouraged
Hi,
I have been taking L-Carnitine, having Diabetes it was suggested to me. It seems like a good idea, I found nothing that was un-nerving about it and after taking it every morning with my other supplements I have had no bad effects. Good luck.

Highland_cow (not verified)

March 10, 2009 - 1:49pm

Hello,

My homepath suggested Calc Flur Tissue Salts to improve connective tissue elasticity, notice a difference with these.

Highland_moo_mama

Connie54

March 12, 2009 - 10:42am

Can you tell me alittle more about the tissue salts, what type of improvement did you notice? Any side effects, how much and how often did you take it? I did a brief search on calc flour tissue salts and it sounds like there is benefit to muscles and connective tisue. Thanks, Connie

Sassytree

June 17, 2009 - 7:46am

I also started taking L-Carnitine upon suggestion from Natural Healing book and so far so good

maja

January 29, 2010 - 11:59am

I have just started adding L-carnitine to the food I make for my dog, as it helps with metabolizing fat. My dog has benign fatty tumors- lipomas. Stopped the use of canola oil in my house for everyone, man and beast, as it contains erucic acid which causes fatty degeneration of several organs (it has been linked to fatty tumors of the heart) and its glucosinolates may slow thyroid function.

aza

January 29, 2010 - 1:14pm

I can't find anything about L-Carnitine that makes me think it would help a prolapse directly. It sounds like as an amino acid, a precursor to protein and therefor muscle mass, it strengthens the muscle tone of the uterus itself, rather than the attachment points and ligaments, etc. Makes sense that levels would fall during pregnancy, just like estrogen falls and progesterone levels rise to keep the gestating uterus quiet and non-contracting to prevent miscarriage. It looks like it is also effective for shrinking fibroids, increasing sperm mobility, fatty metabolism, and growing heavier sows and bigger litters, according to one interesting pdf I found :) Cardio function is mentioned a few times too, so it sounds relevant to your heart things. It is an amine though, and rarely people find that they have a strong reaction to amines. Nuts, fruit, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, asparagus, broccoli are all veg sources. It certainly doesn't sounds like it could hurt and maybe I am wrong about it being effective for prolapse, too.

Alix

January 29, 2010 - 3:11pm

Could there be a problem with the supplement getting into your breast milk?

aza

January 29, 2010 - 4:34pm

was my question too. I am waiting to hear back from Dr Hale who has a wealth of knowledge on breastfeeding and medications, supplements, etc. I didn't want to say anything and imply there might be something wrong til i knew for sure. From what I have read, there seem to be the standard warnings out there, but it is actually an ingredient in some formula (which is pretty poisonous anyway, so personally I would not find this reassuring). I'll let you know if I hear anything.