Red meat capsules may harm the heart

A RED meat nutrient sold as a supplement for weight loss and muscle growth may damage the heart and arteries, research suggests. Capsules of L-carnitine are widely available in health food stores and online. They are advertised as a fat-burning slimming aid and powerful muscle builder – and are also said to help people with heart conditions. But research indicates a link between L-carnitine and heart disease. It may be a key reason why eating too much red meat can damage the heart, say experts.

Bacteria The studies show L-carnitine is broken down by gut bacteria to produce a potentially harmful compound, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Scientists found that high levels of L-carnitine in the blood were associated with heart disease, but only in people with raised TMAO. Omnivorous people were found to produce more TMAO than vegetarians after taking L-carnitine. This suggests that, as well as containing L-carnitine, red meat favours the growth of gut bacteria that use the nutrient as an energy source, said the researchers. Article Source: http://www.herald.ie/news/red-meat-capsules-may-harm-the-heart-29181241.html fat loss factor