ABSTRACT
Skeletal muscle is responsible for a significant proportion of whole body oxygen consumption, reflecting its need to combust nutrient substrates in order to provide sufficient adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to sustain muscular contractions. Carnitine occupies a unique position in skeletal muscle energy metabolism, being involved in both fat and carbohydrate metabolism. As such, the study of carnitine metabolism in skeletal muscle offers insight into the limitations of fuel metabolism responsible for detriments in muscle function in the context of both chronic illness and acute fatigue. In the two decades since the last text on carnitine was published (Current Concepts in Carnitine Research, CRC Press, 1991), significant strides have been made in terms of understanding key aspects of muscle carnitine homeostasis and function. As such, an up-to-date text on the role of carnitine in human metabolism and, in particular, skeletal muscle metabolism, was warranted.
