Research
Mixed
Dietary intake of L-carnitine is primarily derived from red meat, with vegetarians likely to have lower levels due to the absence of carnitine in plant-based foods.
To get L-carnitine, eat red meat like lamb or beef. If you are a strict vegetarian, you likely get very little carnitine from your diet.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
The primary source of L-carnitine is red meat, particularly lamb and beef... L-carnitine is contained mostly in meats and dairy products... strict vegetarians are also likely to be deficient.
Why this rating
The paper provides specific data on carnitine content in various foods.
Source
L-Carnitine - Metabolic Functions and Meaning in Humans Life
Jolanta Pękala et al. · Current Drug Metabolism · 2011
DOI 10.2174/138920011796504536
narrative_reviewCited 334×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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