A new study provides evidence that daily supplementation with 500 mg Carnipure tartrate, a special form of L-Carnitine produced by Lonza, prevents the decline of plasma L-Carnitine concentration in women from week 12 of pregnancy up to delivery. Previous studies already have shown the decrease of plasma L-Carnitine concentration during the course of pregnancy. Published in an advance online issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition on June 3, 2009 1, the new research was conducted by the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences at the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany.

Why plasma L-Carnitine concentration decreases during pregnancy is not fully known. However, the results of the above-mentioned study indicate that an inadequate iron status during pregnancy may lead to a reduction in L-Carnitine biosynthesis, as iron plays a key role in LCarnitine biosynthesis. Scientific evidence from previous studies indicates that restoring plasma levels through Carnipure supplementation during pregnancy may also help prevent the development of gestational diabetes, especially in overweight women, by decreasing elevated plasma free fatty acids.

"We're glad to be the first to show that even with a daily dose of 500 mg L-Carnitine the low plasma levels can be restored in pregnant women," commented lead author professor Klaus Eder. L-Carnitine is produced by the body and plays an essential role in energy metabolism. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria of the body's cells where they are broken down and transformed into energy.

Lonza is the only manufacturer of the Carnipure brand of L-Carnitine products including Carnipure tartrate (USPatent 5073376, Japan Patent JP 2546068 and other international patents). Carnipure tartrate consists of 68 per cent pure L-Carnitine and 32 per cent L-tartaric acid and is self affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). Carnipure products are crystalline, white, water-soluble and heat stable which makes them ideal for use in various food and drink applications. In addition, Carnipure tartrate is non-hygroscopic, odourless, has a pleasant citrus taste and excellent flowability.

Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries.