Carnitine Esters

Optimal Result: 4 - 13 umol/L.

Carnitine esters are special molecules in our bodies that help turn fat into energy. Think of them as tiny taxis that pick up fat from our bloodstream and take it into the mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. Inside the mitochondria, this fat is burned for fuel, giving us the energy we need to function. These esters are made when carnitine, a substance our bodies produce and also get from food, links up with fatty acids.

This process is super important, especially in parts of our body like the heart and muscles, which use a lot of energy and therefore burn a lot of fat. If our body doesn't handle these carnitine esters correctly, it can mess up how we use fat for energy. This can lead to different health issues, such as muscle weakness or problems with our metabolism (the chemical reactions that keep us alive and kicking).

Doctors can check the levels of these esters in our blood to see if everything is working right with our body's energy production. Sometimes, when there's a problem with this system, doctors recommend taking extra carnitine as a supplement. But, the benefits of taking these supplements are still being studied, and it's not yet clear how much they help with various health conditions.

What does it mean if your Carnitine Esters result is too high?

When carnitine esters are elevated in the body, it's like a traffic jam is happening inside your cells, specifically in the parts of the cells called mitochondria, which act like tiny power plants. Normally, carnitine helps transport fatty acids into these mitochondria where they are burned for energy, kind of like fuel being burned in a car's engine.

Carnitine esters are formed when carnitine attaches to fatty acids. If these esters are elevated, it can mean that there's a disruption in this energy-making process. Instead of being used efficiently, fatty acids might be getting stuck at the entrance of the mitochondria because they're not being processed correctly. This can happen for several reasons, such as genetic conditions that affect how the body uses carnitine, diets that change how much carnitine or fat the body has to manage, or problems with the organs like the liver or kidneys that help control carnitine levels. Elevated carnitine esters can signal that the body is having trouble using its fat stores for energy, which might lead to symptoms like muscle weakness, fatigue, or even more serious health issues if not addressed. Doctors can spot these problems by testing for carnitine esters in the blood, which helps them understand if there's a glitch in this energy process and figure out the best way to fix it. This could involve changes in diet, supplements, or other treatments to help get things moving smoothly again and ensure the body's power plants are running efficiently.

What are possible treatment options?

If carnitine esters are found to be elevated, it often indicates that the body is having trouble properly processing and using fats for energy. This can be due to several reasons, such as genetic conditions that affect metabolism, problems with the liver or kidneys, or even certain dietary habits. Treatment options vary based on the underlying cause of the elevation. For genetic metabolic conditions, dietary management is key; this might involve adjusting the intake of fats and possibly incorporating specific types of oils that are easier for the body to process. Additionally, vitamin and mineral supplements might be recommended to support overall metabolism and energy production.

For issues related to liver or kidney function, addressing the primary condition is crucial. This might involve medications to support liver health, manage kidney function, or control symptoms related to these organs' compromised abilities to handle fats and toxins.

In some cases, especially for those with certain metabolic disorders, carnitine supplementation can be beneficial. Taking additional carnitine can help the body more effectively transport and utilize fats for energy, which might help balance out the elevated levels of carnitine esters. However, supplementation needs to be carefully managed and monitored by healthcare professionals to avoid complications.

Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a balanced diet tailored to the individual's specific health needs, are also important. Exercise can help improve the body's metabolism and its ability to use fats for energy, while a diet that is carefully planned to meet the person's energy needs without overloading their system with difficult-to-process fats can support overall health.

It's essential for individuals with elevated carnitine esters to work closely with healthcare providers, including dietitians and specialists in metabolic disorders, to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. This plan will likely be adjusted over time based on how well the individual responds to treatment and any changes in their condition or overall health.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.