Association between red meat consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease: An important role of L carnitine metabolites Prevention Observatory of the Montreal Heart Institute Acetyl L Carnitine Red Meat and Heart Disease: The Hidden Role of microbial L Carnitine & Choline Prof Luigi Fontana Nutrition: Red meat consumption leads to a microbiota dependent risk of cardiovascular disease New study links L carnitine in red meat to heart disease Harvard Health If you are like a lot of people, you may have never heard of carnitine but this important nutrient is critical for our body's ability to optimally burn fat required for energy.