L-Carnitine (LC600): reference dosing schedule
> Updated:
Human schedule
L-carnitine (LC600) is given intramuscularly (levocarnitine) in research and clinical protocols, less often intravenously; the below is generalized from published studies and protocols.
This is a concise reference to regimens described for adults; it is not an individual prescription.
LC600 (L-carnitine) dosing in research protocols depends on the route of administration: the table below lists intramuscular doses separately from the clinical reference figure for intravenous use.
| Period / condition | Dose | Escalation |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 200–300 mg intramuscular, 2–3x/week | Starting dose |
| Typical regimen | 500 mg intramuscular, on training days or daily | Increase if needed |
| Maximum in this schedule | up to 600 mg per injection; clinical IV ~50 mg/kg/day | Maximum in this schedule |
Background on the molecule, its mechanism and primary sources is covered in the monograph.
Practical dosing and effect details
L-carnitine (levocarnitine) is one of the few compounds on this site with an established clinical history: Flanagan and colleagues (Nutrition & Metabolism, 2010) reviewed the literature on carnitine's role in deficiency states, from uremia to metabolic disorders. The route of administration affects the dose needed: bioavailability and tissue uptake speed differ between intramuscular and intravenous use, so clinical sources do not carry a dose over directly from one route to the other.
The roughly 50 mg/kg per day figure for IV use in the table above applies specifically to the intravenous route; that does not mean the same dose fits a research protocol built around a different route. The 600 in the LC600 name refers to the solution's higher concentration per vial: a higher concentration per milliliter delivers the same dose in a smaller volume, which is why the single dose in the table reaches 600 mg.
This is reference information for planning a research protocol, not a medical recommendation and not instructions for self-administration.
This reference is research-use material. The information is not medical advice and is not intended for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease.