Butyryl-L-carnitine is a butyrate ester of carnitine. It is an inhibitor of intestinal transporters, blocking carnitine uptake by the carnitine transporter and glycine transport by the amino acid transporter in human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells (IC50s = 1.5 μM and 4.6 mM, respectively).
Isobutyryl-L-carnitine is a member of the class of compounds known as acylcarnitines. Isobutyryl-L-carnitine is a product of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases.