L-carnitine and curcumin are the two ingredients in Slimqa Slim Coffee Booster that need the most explaining. One is a compound your body already makes, and the other is the golden pigment of a spice in your kitchen cupboard. Here is what they are and how much you get in a stick.
Both ingredients are described here by what they are, where they occur and what the label says. If you would like to see the product first, the Slimqa home page has the overview. For the other three key ingredients, see our guides to chromium and caffeine and green coffee extract.
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is a compound made from amino acids. The body produces it on its own, mainly in the liver and kidneys, using the amino acids lysine and methionine, and it is also found in some foods. Because the body makes it, L-carnitine is not classed as an essential nutrient in the way a vitamin is.
Each Slimqa stick contains 300 mg of L-carnitine.
Where L-carnitine appears in food
Animal foods are the main dietary source. Typical examples are:
- Red meat, such as beef and lamb, which has the most.
- Fish and poultry.
- Milk and other dairy products.
- Small amounts in some plant foods, such as certain vegetables and nuts.
Commonly cited estimates put the intake of people who eat meat and dairy somewhere around tens of milligrams up to a couple of hundred milligrams a day, depending on how much red meat is on the plate. A backyard barbecue with burgers and a glass of milk will carry more L-carnitine than a bowl of rice and vegetables. The 300 mg in a stick is therefore a noticeable amount next to ordinary food, and it is worth keeping in mind if you already use a product that contains L-carnitine.
What is curcumin?
Curcumin is the main yellow pigment of turmeric, the spice made from the root of Curcuma longa, a plant in the ginger family. Turmeric gives mustard, curry powder and golden milk their colour. The pigment belongs to a group of related compounds called curcuminoids, and curcumin is the best known of them.
In Slimqa, the label reads curcumin 100 mg per stick, from turmeric extract with 95% curcuminoids. In plain words, the extract is a concentrated version of the spice, standardised so that almost all of it is the curcuminoid group.
300 mg L-carnitine and 100 mg curcumin in every stick
Discover Slimqa now Dietary supplement. Not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet. Adults only (18+). Contains 120 mg of caffeine per stick.Turmeric in the kitchen versus curcumin in a stick
Many Canadians eat turmeric without thinking about it: in butter chicken, in a dal, in a golden milk latte at the corner cafe or in the yellow of a mustard sandwich. The spice itself contains only a small share of curcuminoids, commonly quoted at only a few percent of the spice. An extract standardised to 95% is a much more concentrated product than the spice, and that is why the label includes a caution.
| Form | What it is |
|---|---|
| Turmeric root | The whole root, fresh or dried |
| Turmeric spice | The ground root, used in cooking |
| Turmeric extract, 95% curcuminoids | A concentrated powder, as used in Slimqa |
The curcumin caution
The Slimqa label states that anyone with a gallbladder, bile duct or liver condition, or anyone who takes blood thinners, should talk to a health care practitioner before using it. That applies even though turmeric is a common food. The reason is the concentration. If you are not sure whether a medication is a blood thinner, a pharmacist can check your list. We cover this and other cautions in who Slimqa suits.
What about the black pepper extract?
The formula also lists black pepper extract in the other ingredients. It sits next to curcumin because black pepper and turmeric turn up together in many recipes, and the label simply names it as part of the formula. Anyone with an allergy to pepper should read the list carefully.
Practical tips
- Staining: turmeric is a dye. A spill of powder on a white countertop or a light shirt can leave a yellow mark, so rinse it right away.
- Stirring: mix well in a mug or a glass so no powder settles at the bottom. More ideas are in how to take it.
- Counting: if you take another supplement that contains L-carnitine or curcumin, add the amounts together.
- Storage: keep the sticks dry, away from heat and out of reach of children.
What this page does not say
We describe L-carnitine and curcumin as ingredients: what they are, where they come from and how much is in a stick. We do not describe them as treatments, and nothing here replaces advice from your own health care practitioner. If you have questions about how these ingredients might interact with your medication or condition, take the box to your pharmacist or doctor and ask.
For the complete ingredient table, including the other three actives and the non-medicinal ingredients, read the ingredients guide.
How the two fit together in a stick
Slimqa puts five ingredients in one 2 g stick: chromium, caffeine, green coffee extract, L-carnitine and curcumin. L-carnitine is the heaviest of the five on the scale, at 300 mg, and curcumin and green coffee extract each sit at 100 mg. The point of the label is that each amount is written down, so you can see exactly what you are stirring in rather than relying on a vague promise on the front of a box.
Vegan and gluten-free notes
The manufacturer describes Slimqa as vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO. Since L-carnitine is most familiar from meat and dairy, some readers wonder about that. Whatever your own diet, the sensible habit is to read the box and the manufacturer's page for the current statement, and to ask them directly if your needs are strict. Contact details for questions about orders are in the terms and contact pop-ups on the home page.
If you cook with turmeric at home, nothing about your kitchen routine needs to change because of the stick. Just remember to count the supplement as its own item whenever you list what you take.
Frequently confused terms
- Curcumin is one curcuminoid. Curcuminoids is the group. Turmeric is the spice.
- Carnitine and L-carnitine usually mean the same compound on a supplement label.
- Carnitine is not a vitamin, even though people often list it with them.
Frequently asked questions
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is a compound made from amino acids. The body produces it, mainly in the liver and kidneys, and it is also found in foods such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.
How much L-carnitine and curcumin are in one Slimqa stick?
One stick contains 300 mg of L-carnitine and 100 mg of curcumin, taken from a turmeric extract with 95% curcuminoids.
Where does curcumin come from?
Curcumin is the main yellow pigment of turmeric, a spice made from the root of Curcuma longa, a plant in the ginger family.
Is the curcumin in a stick the same as turmeric spice?
No. Turmeric spice is the ground root and contains a small share of curcuminoids. The extract in Slimqa is standardised to 95% curcuminoids, so it is much more concentrated.
Who should talk to a professional before using curcumin?
Anyone with a gallbladder, bile duct or liver condition, and anyone who takes blood thinners. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before use.
Why is black pepper extract in the formula?
It is listed among the other ingredients, alongside inulin, natural flavour and stevia leaf extract. Check the list if you have an allergy to pepper.
More guides
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. This guide is general information about a dietary supplement.