PhenQ Vs L-carnitine – What is More Effective?
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Confused about supporting your weight loss with a combination formulation or a single-ingredient supplement? Well, these results may help you decide.
A systematic review of 37 randomized controlled trials revealed that participants taking L-carnitine lost 2.66 pounds more than those taking placebo.
Comparatively, a PhenQ user has shared the incredible progress of shedding a remarkable 40 pounds in just two months.
This certainly hints at the superior potential of PhenQ to supercharge your weight loss journey.
PhenQ
L-Carnitine
What Is L-carnitine & How Does It Work?
L- carnitine (Levo-carnitine) is an essential nutrient that the body (kidney and liver) naturally produces from the amino acids lysine and methionine.
It plays critical roles in the body, like promoting fat oxidation, improving exercise performance, mediating energy production, and enhancing muscle recovery.
For instance, L-carnitine imparts these effects by mobilizing fats for energy. Additionally, it enhances exercise endurance by reducing lactate accumulation in muscles to prevent muscle soreness.
Supplemental L-carnitine is available in various types, like L-carnitine tartrate, acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), or propionyl-L-carnitine.
However, it is important to choose the type most well-suited to your needs. For that purpose, I have assembled this guide based on the use case and studied dosages for each type of L-carnitine.
- L- carnitine L-tartrate: supports exercise performance and muscle recovery- 1 to 4 g per day
- Acetyl-L- carnitine: boosts brain and nervous system function- 500 to 3000 mg per day.
- Propionyl-L-carnitine: improves heart and bone health- 2 g per day.
- D- carnitine: avoid in supplemental form, as it is toxic to the body.
For starters, Nutricost L-carnitine tartrate is one of the best L-carnitine supplements out there, with an impressive Amazon user rating of 4.6 out of 5. What’s more is that it offers L-carnitine within the studied range i.e., 1 g per serving (2 capsules). Also, its benefits are comparable to PhenQ.
L-Carnitine Pros
L-Carnitine Cons
What is PhenQ & How Does It Work?
PhenQ is a natural OTC diet pill that induces weight loss in five ways.
It melts away the fat, prevents its return, improves mood, energizes the body, and suppresses appetite.
PhenQ includes caffeine and Capsimax to get rid of fat by boosting the metabolism rate and thermogenesis. These two ingredients also correct your eating habits by slowing down digestion so that you feel stuffed for longer and by stimulating the release of satiety-causing hormones.
Additionally, PhenQ utilizes the psychostimulant caffeine and the B vitamins to enhance motivation and energy levels, respectively.
PhenQ Pros
PhenQ Cons
L-carnitine Vs. PhenQ – Product Comparison
Brand Reputation
Wolfson Brands Ltd. is the sole manufacturer of PhenQ. However, there are multiple suppliers of L-carnitine, but ‘Nutricost’ is a prominent name among them.
Nutricost, despite its recent establishment in 2012, has rapidly ascended to become a trustable brand for users. In these 11 years, they have amassed a catalog of over 650 high-quality nutritional supplements and health products.
In contrast, Wolfson Brands Ltd. has been a leading name in the health and fitness industry for the past 15 years. It comprises 19 subsidiary companies and since 2008, it has now expanded its operations to conduct business in seven currencies globally.
Key Ingredients
PhenQ is a multi-ingredient fat burner and weight loss supplement, whereas L-carnitine is a stand-alone vitamin-like compound.
In line with this, PhenQ combines ingredients like caffeine, Capsimax, or nopal to block hunger and aid the elimination of fat from the body.
Coincidently, PhenQ also contains L-carnitine L- L-tartrate for maintaining a healthy muscular body composition on your slimming journey.
Common Ingredients:
- L- carnitine tartrate
Unique PhenQ Ingredients:
- Caffeine
- Vitamin (B3, B6, B12)
- Piperine
- Capsaicin compounds
- Nopal
- InnoSlim
- α- Lacy’s Reset
Unique L-carnitine Ingredients:
- None
Dosage Regimen
When it comes to PhenQ, you have no choice but to swallow its capsules. But the good news L- carnitine allows you to opt for the dosage form that you are most feasible in taking as it comes in pills, powders, or ready-made liquid drinks.
For instance, Nutricost L-carnitine tartrate supplement comes in both pill and powder form.
For the powder, you only have to swirl in one scoop of 6 to 10 oz. of water and gulp it in. Alternatively, for the capsules, you have to take two of them daily with 8 to 10 oz of water.
Similarly, if you are looking for more options then the Doublewood supplements acetyl-L-carnitine also has a similar dosage regime. Manufacturer’s recommend taking its two capsules daily on an empty stomach.
In comparison, manufacturers recommend taking one PhenQ pill in the morning with breakfast and the other one with lunch but not later than 3 p.m.
PhenQ Or L-carnitine – Which Is Best For Weight Loss?
PhenQ Burn Fat And Prevents Its Regain
Besides including L-carnitine in its formulation, PhenQ also employs Capsimax, caffeine, nopal, InnoSlim, and α- Lacy’s Reset to strengthen its fat-burning potential.
Converts Fat Into Energy
Among these, L-carnitine promotes fat loss by transporting free fatty acids into the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) for energy generation.
Likewise, the capsaicin compounds in Caspimax stimulate the release of HSL (hormone-sensitive lipase), which breaks down stored fat into free fatty acids for energy production.
Enhances Fat Elimination
In parallel, caffeine stimulates the nervous system and elevates the level of epinephrine which accelerates the rate of fat oxidation.
Furthermore, a clinical trial reported that α- Lacy’s Reset caused a 7.24% reduction in excess body fat of the participants as compared to the placebo.
Prevents Fat Accretion
Studies suggest that the nopal adjusts the composition of the gut microbiota in such a way that it prevents fat storage and obesity.
Similarly, scientists found that InnoSlim regulates the adiponectin levels in the body which prevents the accumulation of belly and lower body fat.
PhenQ Exerts Intense Appetite Suppression
Apart from L-carnitine, PhenQ employs Capsimax and caffeine to curb appetite.
Enables Food Restriction
In this regard, studies suggest that L- L-carnitine may gradually reduce the sensation of hunger during fasting with each passing day.
Regarding this, a 2018 systematic review of seven clinical trials concluded that a daily intake of at least 2 mg L-carnitine for at least 12 weeks may significantly increase the serum concentration of leptin, a hormone that promotes satiety.
Controls Overeating
Apart from that, studies suggest that Capsaicin compounds in Capsimax induce a sensation of fullness and reduce the desire to eat after calorie-deficit meals.
Chokes Hunger Pangs
Studies suggest that caffeine consumption increases the level of GLP-1 hormone in the gut which signals satiety, and it slows down gastric emptying which promotes stomach fullness.
PhenQ Ensures You Don’t Lose Muscle Along With Fat
Why opt for a single-ingredient supplement when you can get the same benefit and more from a multi-ingredient pill? This is where L-carnitine and PhenQ diverge.
PhenQ essentially incorporates L-carnitine to ensure that you don’t lose lean muscle mass while shedding weight. Yet, PhenQ is a step ahead because it also includes α- LACY’s reset to reinforce muscle preservation.
Prevents Muscle Loss
Among these, the L- carnitine prevents muscle flattening by sparing the use of amino acids and muscle glycogen as energy substrates and instead favoring the utilization of fat.
Also, it mediates the process of muscle repair and remodeling which is essential for averting muscle loss due to strenuous exercise.
Increases muscle mass
Apart from that, a clinical trial reports that compared to the placebo, α- LACY’s reset led to a 3.80% increase in the muscle mass of the participants.
PhenQ and L-carnitine Side Effects – Which Is Safer?
PhenQ Side Effects
PhenQ may cause mild side effects like nausea, bloating, headache, or changes in bowel movements.
Concerning this, ‘Specialist Web 5581,’ mentioned in this Reddit story that he developed a self-limiting nausea at the beginning of his 120-day use of PhenQ.
L-carnitine Side Effects
L-carnitine supplementation in a dosage range of 2 to 3 g per day is associated with adverse effects like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and a fishy body odor.
Additionally, higher doses may cause muscle weakening in patients with uremia and trigger seizures in individuals with seizure disorders.
In this respect, a Reddit user ‘Pidginduck’ shared that he developed a fishy body odor and experienced increased sweating after using 1.2 g acetyl L-carnitine for 10 months.
PhenQ vs. L-carnitine – Which One Is More Affordable?
PhenQ – Where To Buy & Price
You can purchase PhenQ only from the official website.
Here, you may purchase a single bottle (60 tablets) that lasts a month for a discounted price of $69.99.
Or you may stock up on the three-month or five-month bundle that comes at discounted rates of $139.99 and $209.99, respectively.
L-carnitine – Where To Buy & Price
You may purchase L-carnitine supplements from the company’s official websites, Amazon marketplace, or physical stores like Walmart.
To give you an idea, the cost of most L- carnitine supplements ranges between $10 to $30 depending on the type, brand, and dosage form. Nonetheless, some high-end supplements may be priced higher than $70.
For instance, a single Nutricost L- L-carnitine tartrate bottle that lasts two months and contains 120 capsules (2 capsules per serving) is available for $17. 95 on the official website.
Likewise, the Doublewoods acetyl-L-carnitine lasts 2 months and an additional 15 days and costs $19.95. You may purchase it from the official website, Amazon, or Walmart.
In comparison, 100 grams of Vital nutrients acetyl L-carnitine powder costs $76.90 on the official website.
Verdict: Which Weight Loss Supplement Is Best?
We Recommend PhenQ
PhenQ scores higher points in terms of its effectiveness in managing weight and safety. This distinction is due to its comprehensive formula, which encompasses the goodness of L-carnitine, as well as a range of other cutting-edge ingredients like patented proprietary blends. However, you may prefer the single-ingredient L-carnitine supplement as it is more budget-friendly (available for as low as $10), whereas PhenQ maintains a fixed high-end price point.
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