Ask Dr. Mike: Is Carnitine Linked to Heart Disease?

Here you'll find the answers to a wealth of health and wellness questions posed by Healthy Talk fans.

Listen in because what you know helps ensure healthy choices you can live with. Today on Healthy Talk, you wanted to know:

What are your feelings on carnitine? After the research linking it to TMAO and heart disease, what say you?

Carnitine is a substance found in your body that turns fat into energy. Recently, research was suggesting that red meat and egg consumption releases carnitine in the gut which allows gut bacteria to produce TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide; a gut flora-dependent metabolite that contributes to heart disease).

However, the way it was phrased in the media's headlines was misleading. Usually, when a study like this comes out, researchers at Life Extension will look into the study to conclude if there are flaws, or whether or not the study is legit.

If you have a health question or concern, Dr. Mike encourages you to write him at askdrmikesmith@radiomd.com or call in, toll-free, to the LIVE radio show (1.844.305.7800) so he can provide you with support and helpful advice.