Can You Take Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Propionyl-L-Carnitine Together?

Use extra care with this pair

The short answer

Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Propionyl-L-Carnitine are both ester forms of L-Carnitine. Combining multiple carnitine forms may lead to excessive total carnitine, increasing TMAO production and GI side effects.

How to arrange timing

Choose one form of carnitine based on your therapeutic goal rather than stacking multiple forms.

Reference

Reference noted for this combination: Koeth RA, et al. Intestinal microbiota metabolism of L-carnitine, a nutrient in red meat, promotes atherosclerosis. Nat Med. 2013;19(5):576-585.

Important context

Whether supplements suit you together also depends on dose, product formulation, health conditions, and medication use. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a chronic condition.