01.11.13
A representative survey conducted by the German consumer research organization GfK shows that L-carnitine and its health benefits are well known by consumers. The survey was commissioned by Lonza Ltd, Basel, Switzerland, which markets high quality L-carnitine products under the Carnipure brand. The representative online survey was done in December 2012 among more than 1000 German consumers who reported to be at least occasional consumers of any kind of dietary supplements and/or functional foods. L-carnitine was known among 43% of the respondents. Of those, 39% could correctly relate L-carnitine supplementation to beneficial effects for weight management, 27% to exercise and 20% to energy. In the age group of 20-39 year olds, even 50% of respondents were aware of L-carnitine, and in general more women than men seem to know it. In the subgroup of people who currently take L-carnitine supplements, 59% take it for the purpose of weight management, 33% for exercise and 10% for cardiovascular health.