Can I take Carnitine with Glutamine?

Understanding the interactions, benefits, and safety of combining these two powerful supplements.

Carnitine
+
Glutamine

Short answer

We found no documented interaction between Carnitine and Glutamine in the sources below. That isn't proof the combination is right for you: check each one's cautions, and ask your pharmacist if you take medication.

Carnitine

What it is: A nutrient the body makes and gets from meat; it helps turn food into energy.

What the research says: Healthy people make all they need. Results for dementia and other conditions are mixed.

Cautions

  • 3 g a day or more can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor.
  • High amounts may cause muscle weakness in kidney disease and raise seizure risk in people with seizure disorders.

Medicines to check

  • Some anti-seizure medicines (phenobarbital, valproic acid) and long-term use of some antibiotics can lower carnitine levels

In Holitro: Carnitine (500 mg per capsule)

Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Carnitine: Fact Sheet for Consumers (updated May 2023)

Glutamine

What it is: An amino acid the body makes and uses for energy and to build protein.

What the research says: It has little or no benefit for strength or recovery. It's studied mainly in cancer care and after surgery.

Cautions

  • Studies report no side effects at up to 45 g a day for several weeks; reported side effects elsewhere include headache and nausea.
  • Don't confuse it with glutamate, which is a different substance.

In Holitro: Glutamine (750 mg per capsule)

Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance (updated March 2021); Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About Herbs: Glutamine (updated September 2026)

Check with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medication.

Check your stack — free

Educational information only, not medical advice. This reflects general ingredient overlap, not a personalized safety review. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining supplements, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or manage a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

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