The Effect of Acute L-Carnitine Supplementation on Endurance Performance and Fatigue Index of Athlete Young Men

L-carnitine may improve performance and decrease fatigue in athletes by increasing lipid oxidation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute L-carnitine supplementation on endurance performance and fatigue index in athlete young men. This study was performed by semi-experimental method. Subjects included 12 athlete young men athletes working in volleyball who were divided into two groups: experimental (consumption of 4.5 g L-carnitine with 6 drops of lemon juice in 250 mg) and control (6 drops of lemon juice in 250 mg of water as a placebo). Each of the subjects in two separate sessions performed the RAST test three times in one hour interval and were measured maximum power, minimum power, average power and fatigue index. The results showed that in the experimental group there was a significant difference between the first and second stages of the variables maximum power (p = 0.007), minimum power (p= 0.028) and average power (p= 0.002), But there was no significant difference between the other steps (p < 0.05). Also, there was no difference between different stages of fatigue index in experimental group (p <0.05). In addition, comparing the experimental and control groups in the above variables showed that there was no significant difference between the groups at any of the test stages (p < 0.05). It seems that acute consumption of L-carnitine supplement during one session of vigorous physical activity does not have significant effect on endurance and fatigue index.