Acylcarnitine C12 Unit Converter

Acylcarnitine C12 (lauroylcarnitine or dodecanoylcarnitine) is a medium-chain acylcarnitine formed when lauric acid (a 12-carbon fatty acid) is bound to carnitine for transport into the mitochondria.

It sits at the boundary between medium-chain and long-chain acylcarnitines, making it relevant to several fatty acid oxidation pathways. When mitochondrial beta-oxidation is functioning normally, C12 is rapidly broken down into shorter-chain fragments used for energy production.

Elevated C12 levels in blood may indicate a disruption in fatty acid oxidation, suggesting that the body cannot efficiently metabolize medium- to long-chain fats for energy.

C12 acylcarnitine is formed in cells throughout the body when lauric acid (from dietary fat or stored triglycerides) is conjugated to carnitine by carnitine palmitoyltransferase enzymes, primarily in the liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria.