Can carnitine help people burn more fat to become leaner and more muscular?
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The role of carnitine in fat burning has been known for decades. Basically, carnitine helps shuttle the principle fatty acids used for energy into mitochondria, the part of cells that breaks them down for energy. Despite this vital role in burning fat, supplementation of carnitine has generally failed to demonstrate increased fat burning. Recently however, researchers have shown that carnitine combined with a special form of carbohydrate call Vitagro is able to enhance carnitine uptake into muscle and potentially increase fat burning. Time will tell how successful this novel carnitine delivery system will be. Additionally, researchers are showing that carnitine supplementation of 1 to 2 grams can reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery.
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Can chromium and chromium picolinate increase muscle development?
Chromium, especially in the form of chromium picolinate, has drawn the attention of some athletes. Because chromium appears to potentiate insulin activity, it has been theorized that supplemental chromium may increase amino acid uptake in skeletal muscle and promote muscle protein synthesis. This could lead to the building of more muscle. Picolinate is simply a molecule that, when bound to chromium, is touted to enhance the efficiency of chromium absorption. Chromium can also be bound to nicotinate as well as other substances.
Earlier reports by some researchers stated that participants taking chromium picolinate for forty days in conjunction with weight-training programs increased their body weight. Furthermore, most of the increase in weight was attributed to lean body mass. Another research study described a slight weight reduction in chromium-picolinate supplemented football players. It was reported that these athletes became leaner as a result of a decrease in their body fat. However, other scientists challenged these studies because the methods used in these studies suffered from flaws that easily cast doubt upon the credibility of the results. More recent and better designed studies, including those published in the highly reputable research journals, failed to show beneficial effects of chromium supplementation. Furthermore, studies exploring the potential toxic effects of long-term chromium supplementation have not been completed. Some scientists also speculate that picolinate itself may unfavorably alter brain neurotransmitter levels. So at this time chromium supplementation is not recommended for muscle mass development in otherwise healthy and well-nourished athletes.
Can vanadium and vanadyl sulfate led to muscle mass gains?
Like chromium, vanadium as vanadyl sulfate has also received a fair amount of attention from weight-training individuals. However, contrary to the attention, there has been very little research performed regarding the possibility of vanadium as a mass-enhancing supplement. Like chromium, the potentially toxic effects of vanadium suppplementation are not known, and many nutritionists caution against supplementation until more research is completed in this area.
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