All Categories
History
This section provides an overview for carnitine as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 carnitine manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked carnitine companies as of December, 2024: 1.AdvaCare Pharma USA, 2.VIX PHARMA INTERNATIONAL, 3.Nanjing NutriHerb BioTech Co.,Ltd.
Table of Contents
Carnitine is an organic compound classified as a hydroxy acid and a quaternary ammonium compound.
It has the chemical formula C7H15NO3, and is classified as a hydroxyl acid because it has hydroxy and carboxyl groups in the molecule, and also has a quaternary ammonium ion structure. Its registration numbers are 406-76-8 for the DL-carnitine raceminc mixture and 541-15-1 for L-carnitine.
It has a molecular weight of 161.199, a density of 0.64 g/㎠, a melting point of 190-195°C, and is a crystalline powder at room temperature. It is white to yellowish-brown. It is soluble in water and ethanol, but virtually insoluble in acetone.
L-carnitine is abundant in muscle cells and is an essential compound for lipid metabolism; when L-carnitine is bound to fatty acids and transported to the mitochondria, lipids are burned and utilized as energy in the body.
In the human body, carnitine is a substance involved in lipid metabolism. For this reason, it has been widely used as a dietary supplement in recent years. However, healthy children and adults can synthesize enough carnitine in their liver and kidneys to meet their daily needs.
On the other hand, the substance is approved as a drug for carnitine deficiency, and is administered orally or intravenously. Causes of carnitine deficiency include insufficient intake due to diet and other factors, deficient biosynthesis caused by renal or hepatic insufficiency, excessive loss due to dialysis or diarrhea, and side effects of pharmaceuticals.
As an in vitro substance, carnitine is also used as a reagent for research and development in fields such as biochemistry.
Carnitine has a pair of mirror isomers because the chiral center of carnitine is the carbon at position 3, i.e., the carbon to which the hydroxyl group is attached. When distinguishing between the mirror isomers, they are often distinguished as D-carnitine and L-carnitine.
The racemic mixture of equal amounts of these isomers is often referred to as DL-carnitine.
Carnitine is sold as a dietary supplement, a drug, and a reagent for research and development. As a dietary supplement, L-carnitine is sold by many manufacturers and is available in pill form.
As a pharmaceutical product, L-carnitine is prescribed for carnitine deficiency, and its generic name is levocarnitine (L-carnitine). It is available in tablet and oral solution formulations. In addition to free levocarnitine, levocarnitine-chloride tablets also exist, so care should be taken not to confuse the two.
In addition to free L-carnitine, it is often sold as L-carnitine hydrochloride or racemic DL-carnitine hydrochloride as an R&D reagent. The hydrochloride salt is the result of purification conditions during commercialization. It is a reagent product that can be stored at room temperature and is available in a variety of capacities, including 10 mg, 1 g, 5 g, 25 g, and 100 g .
In the body, carnitine is biosynthesized from the essential amino acids lysine and methionine. First, methionine is converted to S-adenosylmethionine.Methyltransferase transfers the methyl group of S-adenosylmethionine to an amino group on the side chain of lysine, and the quaternary ammonium portion of carnitine is synthesized. In addition, another enzymatic reaction stereo selectively adds a hydroxyl group to the side chain of lysine to construct the molecular skeleton.
There are two types of carnitine deficiency disorders: the first is an inherited disorder of the cellular carnitine transport system. In this case, symptoms of cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle weakness, and hypoglycemia usually appear by age 5.
The second is a carnitine deficiency caused by a specific disease (such as chronic renal failure) or under specific conditions (such as the use of certain antimicrobials). In these cases, there is a decrease in carnitine absorption or an increase in its elimination.
Carnitine preparations are prescribed to treat these deficiencies.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
AdvaCare Pharma USA LLC, founded in 2014, is an American pharmaceutical manufacturer and supplier based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The company specializes in a wide range of products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, supplements, antimalarial tablets, injections, and oral suspensions. They also offer oncology tablets, injections, and powder for injections, as well as veterinary products and medical devices like injection instruments, diagnostic detection instruments, and skin and wound care products. AdvaCare's products are available under various brands, such as AmoxiCare™ for amoxicillin capsules and AdvaLife™ for supplements.
Wego Chemical Group was founded in 1978 and headquartered in Great Neck, New York. WEGO is a full-service supplier and distributor of chemicals, minerals, and other raw materials to clients around the world. Markets and segments include agriculture & animal care, chemical & material manufacturing, construction & building materials, electronics, food & beverage, “household, industrial & institutional”, mining, oil & gas, personal care & pharmaceutical, paper & packaging, surface treatment, textiles, and water treatment.
Sandoo Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Co., Ltd., founded in 2009 and situated in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, is a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Its diverse product portfolio encompasses active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), anti-cancer substances, antiviral drug intermediates, fine chemicals, and food additives, along with critical intermediates for polypeptide compounds. The company maintains a stringent adherence to FDA-approved and GMP-certified sources for its supplies which are exported to over 20 countries.
Nanjing NutriHerb BioTech Co. Ltd., founded in 2004 and based in Nanjing, China, is a certified manufacturer specializing in botanical extracts. Its product range includes natural Licorice Extract for health supplements, organic Artemisia Annua Extract used in traditional Chinese medicine, potent antioxidant astaxanthin, Milk Thistle Extract with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and water-soluble food coloring Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin. These products are certified by Kosher, HALAL, EU, and USDA organic. The company's facility holds approvals from SGS and Bureau Veritas, and it's registered with the FDA, ensuring quality and compliance with international standards.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Fengchen Group Co., LTD is based in Qingdao, China. The company is a manufacturer and supplier of speciality chemicals for several industries around the world including natural resources, hydrogeology, drilling, geophysics, and environmental & geotechnical services. The company’s chemical product categories include APIs, amino acids, micronutrients, package materials, and enzymes. The company also offers services including specialized transportation, samples of compounds, shipping documents needed for pharmaceutical products, and international customs support.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Avanscure Lifesciences Private Limited, established in 2012 and based in Gurugram, Haryana, India is a manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company manufactures pharmaceutical nutraceuticals, vitamins, food additives, amino acids, and anti-cancer drugs. It is located in the industrial areas of Gurugram and doubles up as a supplier and trader of industrial and laboratory chemicals. It caters to the health and wellness industry, with a special importance on oncology, hormones and peptides. The company has a modern chemical processing unit, where superior technology is used to process chemicals like Amiodarone, Hydrochloride, Acetazolamide, and Bethanechol chloride.
Glentham Life Sciences is based in Corsham, United Kingdom. Glentham Life Sciences is a leading supplier of fine chemicals, raw materials, reagents, and life science products. Glenthem also offers a number of services including custom packaging, call-off orders, and safety documentation. Glentham’s product offerings include chemicals such as amino acids, antibiotics, APIs, biochemicals, buffers, carbohydrates, chitin, chitosan, detergents, dyes, stains, enzymes, inorganic, peptide reagents, phytochemical, raw materials, solvents, steroids, and vitamins among others.
Foodchem was founded in 2006 in Shanghai, China. The company is ISO 9001 certified and is a producer, distributor, R&D provider, and marketer of specialty and standard food additives and ingredients to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutrition, and chemical industries around the world through distributors and self-managed warehouses. The company operates through four product segments: Food Ingredients, Feed Additives, Industrial Chemicals, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Certain categories include Kosher and Halal-certified products and products meeting other dietary restrictions.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdvaCare Pharma USA |
21.6%
|
| 2 | VIX PHARMA INTERNATIONAL |
13.6%
|
| 3 | Nanjing NutriHerb BioTech Co.,Ltd |
8.8%
|
| 4 | Orison Chemicals Limited |
8.0%
|
| 5 | MilliporeSigma |
8.0%
|
| 6 | Wego Chemical Group Inc |
7.2%
|
| 7 | nacalai |
7.2%
|
| 8 | Sandoo Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Co.,Ltd |
6.4%
|
| 9 | Glentham Life Sciences Limited |
5.6%
|
| 10 | SPORTS NUTRITION TECHNOLOGY |
3.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the carnitine page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
China
|
5 | 50.0% |
|
United States of America
|
2 | 20.0% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 10.0% |
India
|
1 | 10.0% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 10.0% |
