(±)-Hexanoylcarnitine chloride is a fatty acid metabolite that breaks down fatty acids into energy that can be used by the body. (±)-Hexanoylcarnitine chloride also serves as a specific and easily detectable biomarker for rat skeletal muscle toxicity. Cerivastatin (HY-129458) and TMPD (HY-W012145) induce an increase in Hexanoylcarnitine in rats in a metabolomic analysis of the rectus femoris muscle. In type 2 diabetes, Hexanoylcarnitine is also significantly associated with and improves prediction of all-cause mortality. Hexanoylcarnitine is a biomarker for the identification of novel pathogenic pathways.