NOW Foods L-Carnitine Liquid 1000mg Tropical Punch 16 fl oz

What it is

NOW Sports Liquid L-Carnitine in Tropical Punch flavor is a liquid dietary supplement sold in a 16 fl. oz. (473 mL) bottle holding about 32 servings. One serving is a single tablespoon (15 mL), and that tablespoon supplies 1 g (1,000 mg) of free-form-base L-carnitine supplied as Carnipure, together with 2 mg of vitamin B-6 from pyridoxine HCl. It is manufactured by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and the back label describes it as made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. It sits in our Sports Nutrition range.

The liquid format is the practical difference between this and a carnitine capsule. A serving is measured out by the spoonful from the bottle rather than counted as tablets, and the label asks you to shake the bottle before use. The same label notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, so the shade you receive is not fixed from bottle to bottle.

What's inside

The ingredient line on this bottle is short and every item on it is named, so there is no proprietary blend to decode. Here is what each part of it actually is.

• L-Carnitine (Carnipure), free-form base — 1 g (1,000 mg) per tablespoon. Carnitine is an amino acid compound. The bottle's own side panel states that it occurs naturally in red meat and other animal-source foods, and describes the carnitine used here as vegetarian and non-animal sourced. Carnipure is a Lonza trademark, printed as such on the back label. The Supplement Facts panel marks this row with a dagger and prints "Daily Value not established", meaning no reference intake has been set for carnitine.
• Vitamin B-6 (from pyridoxine HCl) — 2 mg. The panel lists this at 118% of the Daily Value, which reconciles against the current 1.7 mg adult reference intake. B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin found across ordinary foods; the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on vitamin B6 gives general background on the nutrient and does not refer to this product.
• Organic Stevia Leaf Extract (enzyme-modified steviol glycosides). This is the only sweetener anywhere on the ingredient line, and on this bottle it appears in the "other ingredients" list rather than as its own row in the Supplement Facts panel. Steviol glycosides are the sweet compounds drawn from the leaf of the stevia plant.
• Vegetable glycerin, de-ionized water, L-malic acid and citric acid. These make up the liquid base and its tartness. Malic acid is the sharp-tasting acid most associated with apples; citric acid is the one associated with citrus fruit. Both are standard in flavored liquid supplements.
• Natural flavors and potassium sorbate. The flavor system is what makes this the Tropical Punch version, described on the front label as Tropical Punch with other natural flavors. Potassium sorbate is listed on the panel as a preservative.

Two details here are worth reading off the panel rather than assumed: there is no lemon oil anywhere on the ingredient list, and the stevia sits in the other-ingredients line rather than as a weighed row inside the Supplement Facts box. If you want to compare label panels across brands yourself, the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database indexes them.

Supplement Facts

** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.

Other ingredients: De-ionized Water, Vegetable Glycerin, L-Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (as preservative) and Organic Stevia Leaf Extract (Enzyme-Modified Steviol Glycosides).

How to use it

The label's suggested usage reads: shake well before using, then take 1 tablespoon daily, preferably on an empty stomach. That is the whole of the printed direction, and a usage graphic in this listing's gallery repeats it word for word. A tablespoon is 15 mL, so a standard kitchen tablespoon measure is the right tool; the bottle does not include a dosing cup or a dropper.

For storage, the back label asks you to keep the bottle in a cool, dry, dark place after opening, and it does not ask for refrigeration.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults 18 and over who already know they want carnitine in liquid form. The clearest reason to choose a 16 fl. oz. bottle over capsules is convenience: one measured tablespoon replaces several capsules, and the Tropical Punch flavoring makes it something you can take straight from the spoon or stirred into a drink. Anyone who dislikes swallowing capsules is the natural buyer here.

It is also a reasonable pick if you are building out a broader amino acids and BCAAs shelf and want the carnitine slot filled by a liquid rather than another capsule bottle. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes a general overview of dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance covering the category as a whole; it is background reading about that category and is not a statement about this bottle.

Our wider Health & Wellness section carries the rest of the range, and the ODS guide to what you need to know about dietary supplements is a sensible starting point before adding anything new to a routine.

Good to know

The printed caution on the side panel reads, in full: for adults only; consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication (especially thyroid hormones or anticoagulant medications), or have a medical condition, including thyroid disease; keep out of reach of children. That interaction note is specific, and it is worth reading twice if either class of medication applies to you.

Allergen statement, as printed: not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or sesame ingredients, and produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. The second half of that sentence is the part that matters if you have a severe allergy, because shared-facility production is disclosed rather than ruled out.

The bottle carries a GMP Quality Assured roundel and a small kosher-style certification mark. We describe those marks rather than assign them to a named certifying body, because they are not legible enough in the supplied photography to identify their issuer. The asterisks printed on the front panel mark structure/function statements, a labeling category the FDA explains here; those statements are the manufacturer's and are not repeated in this description.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much L-carnitine is in a serving, and how many servings does the bottle hold?

One tablespoon serving contains 1 g (1,000 mg) of L-carnitine as Carnipure, free-form base, and the 16 fl. oz. (473 mL) bottle holds about 32 of those servings.

What is it sweetened with, and does it contain aspartame or sucralose?

The only sweetener on the ingredient line is Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, listed as enzyme-modified steviol glycosides. No aspartame, sucralose or acesulfame potassium appears anywhere on the printed ingredient list. The flavor itself is given on the front label as Tropical Punch with other natural flavors.

Is the carnitine in this bottle vegetarian?

The bottle's side panel describes the Carnipure carnitine used here as vegetarian and non-animal sourced. Carnitine as a nutrient occurs naturally in red meat and other animal-source foods, which is why the non-animal sourcing is called out on the packaging at all. If you follow a stricter diet than that, the printed allergen and ingredient lines on the back label are the authoritative text to read.

How should I store it after opening, and does it need refrigerating?

Store it in a cool, dry, dark place after opening; the label does not ask for refrigeration. Shake the bottle well before each serving rather than only the first, and keep the cap closed between uses. Keep it out of reach of children, as the caution panel directs.

How will my order be packaged?

Your order ships in plain, unmarked outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.