This can be very confusing.  And I get lots of queries on this, particularly with our recent shortage of magnesium and carnitine powders, where people have tried to get supplies elsewhere and had problems with some well known brands not giving the results we need.   Poor quality, combining with salts or low dose supplements do not give the results needed.  That doesn’t mean more cost but careful choice and a little understanding of what we are doing.  Below are some things that are written on this.
 

From Pharmacological Professor Barrie Finnin in Victoria who is accessing the best quality powders at the cheapest price available for us. CARNITINE "……. Carnitine is available in a number of chemical forms including esters such as acetyl or proprionyl carnitine or as salts such as carnitine tartrate as well as the base form also called an inner salt.  Because of the three dimensional structure of carnitine it also exists in left-handed (L) or right-handed (D) forms.  It is only the L form that is useful in humans.  In addition to these different forms, carnitine or Levocarnitine as it is now officially called, can also be obtained in different grades.   Carnitine from some sources is crystalline while from other sources it is a powder, also know as amorphous.  Experience of the Post Polio Network of Western Australia is that patients get better results with the finer powder form of carnitine.   Hence considerable effort is taken to ensure that the carnitine supplied to you by the Post-Polio Network of WA is in the fine powder form. "

From other sources (not to do with polio)
“Studies have been conducted on L-carnitine since as early as 1937.  They show that the body's cardiovascular system can greatly benefit from its intake.  The FDA (USA) has approved L-carnitine under the name Carnitor for use in treating heart disease and low energy levels.  Also, there are a variety of published studies that show L-carnitine is useful in increasing the heart's output and improving it's functioning, as well as stimulating the heart's energy supply and improving cardiac performance.  Moreover, some experts have shown it increases endurance and helps regulating heart arrhythmia.

Muscle fatigue, cramps, or pre-mature aging are all signs of possible deficiency. A person may also be L-carnitine deficient if their kidneys seem to not function properly after exercise. Other symptoms of possible deficiency are heart irregularities after a heart attack or angina.”

MAGNESIUM CHELATE
"The best forms of supplemental magnesium seem to be chelated to an amino acid (magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurate) or a krebs cycle intermediate (magnesium malate, magnesium citrate, magnesium fumarate).  These forms seem to be better utilized, absorbed, and assimilated.  Try to stay away from inorganic forms of magnesium like magnesium as chloride, carbonate or sulphate as they may not be absorbed as well and may cause gastric disturbance

  Amino acid chelated minerals are more bioavailable than any other type of mineral.  The absorption rates are three to six times greater than mineral salts and they have twice the retention and utilisation in the body.  Through chelation, an amino acid claws onto, or binds to, a mineral. This enables that mineral to be absorbed through the gut wall.

  Both taurine & magnesium stabilize cell membranes.  Both exert sedative effects & inhibit the excitability of nerve cells throughout the central nervous system.”

“Chelated minerals provide 3 to 10 times greater absorption than the non-chelated ones, and are thus well worth the small additional cost. Another example is magnesium, which is absorbed 87 percent when properly chelated, but only absorbed 16 percent when taken in an inorganic non-chelated form eg Espom Salts.”

One of our members in Kalgoorlie, Diane Hilton thought she would use Epsom Salts as a cheaper form of taking magnesium.  Her asthma which had been much better since taking magnesium powder the last few years, flared up very severely this winter.  Since speaking to me and going back to the Magnesium chelate powder her asthma is now under control again.

Others have found the magnesium chelate tablets less effective than the powder too.  Our powder is much cheaper than the tablets but doesn’t dissolve in water.  Best taken spooning the scoop measure onto the tongue, wash down with a drink.  It is very concentrated.  A 1 ml scoop = 4 chelate magnesium tablets of 500mg (elemental magnesium 100mg).