Effects Of Dietary L-carnitine Research Articles

The effect of dietary L-carnitine and fat on performance, carcass traits and blood components in broiler chickens

Abstract The poultry industry has traditionally been selecting animals for improved performance without consideration for the effect on fat deposition. Dietary L-carnitine can alter lipid metabolism; nevertheless, when combined with fat, the effects are not clear. This study shows the effect of different dietary levels of L-carnitine (0, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and fat (0, 2.5 and 5%) on growth performance and slaughter traits of commercial broilers (Ross 308; n=270). The groups received the following dietary treatments: 1) 0 mg/kg L-carnitine + 0% fat, 2) 200 mg/kg L-carnitine + 0% fat, 3) 400 mg/kg L-carnitine + 0% fat, 4) 0 mg/kg L-carnitine + 2.5% fat, 5) 200 mg/kg L-carnitine + 2.5% fat, 6) 400 mg/kg L-carnitine + 2.5% fat, 7) 0 mg/kg L-carnitine + 5.0% fat, 8) 200 mg/kg L-carnitine + 5.0% fat, and 9) 400 mg/kg L-carnitine + 5.0% fat. Feed conversion ratio, growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, carcass traits and body composition were measured and analyzed. Levels of fat with L-carnitine had significant effects on the European Performance Efficiency Factor, wings weight, intestine length and weight, spleen and liver weight, full abdomen carcass and abdominal fat weight, as well as serum triglyceride levels. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation improved growth performance of broilers, thus it may be a promising solution to reduce fat storage in broilers and improve the quality of carcasses intended for human consumption.

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and fat type on the performance, milk composition and immunoglobulin in sows, and immunological variables of sows and piglets during late gestation and lactation

An experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12 sows/treatment) was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation with 2 different L-carnitine levels (0 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) and 2 fat types (3.5% soybean oil and 3.5% fish oil) from day 107 of gestation until weaning (day 21) on performance, milk composition and immunoglobulin, and on the immunological variables of sows and piglets. Blood and milk samples of sows were obtained on days 0 (farrowing), 14, and 21 of lactation. One 21-day-old piglet per litter was selected for the collection of plasma. The average piglet weaning weight and the average daily gain (ADG) were significantly influenced by supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine (P < 0.05). Furthermore, fish oil (FO) treatment exhibited an increasing trend in average piglet weaning weight and ADG over soybean oil (SO) treatment (P < 0.1). The concentrations of fat, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were increased in colostrums and milk by day 21 by supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine enhanced the IgG and IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and piglets (P < 0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of IgG and IgA were improved in colostrums by the addition of FO (P < 0.05). The FO treatment also advanced the IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and the IgG concentration in the plasma of piglets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 100 mg/kg L-carnitine improved the weight of piglets at weaning, ADG, IgG, and IgA levels in colostrums, and IgG and IgA concentration in the plasma of sows and piglets (P < 0.05). The concentrations of IgG and IgA were significantly increased in colostrums by supplementation with 3.5% FO (P < 0.05). Overall, no significant difference was observed between L-carnitine and FO or SO treatment in immunological variables in this study.

The Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine and Gemfibrozil on Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Cholesterol and Triglycerides in Broiler Chicks

Gemfibrozil and L-carnitine are involved in fatty acid metabolism. We assessed the impact of administering gemfibrozil together with L-carnitine on the performance, lipid redistribution, intramuscular fat, and carcass quality in broiler chickens. Day-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly divided among nine treatments, with three replicates per treatment. There were of 10 chicks in each replicate. The experiment involved a 3×3 factorial arrangement of treatments, with three levels of L-carnitine, in combination with three levels of gemfibrozil. Body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were obtained weekly from 3 to 6 weeks of age. At the end of the experimental period, the chicks were sacrificed and carcass and blood samples were obtained for various measures. There were interactions between L-carnitine and gemfibrozil on weight gain, feed intake, FCR, full and empty abdominal carcass weights, breast and wing weights, abdominal fat weight, heart weight and triglyceride concentration (P>0.05). The presence of dietary L-carnitine and gemfibrozil together reduced the weight gain, feed intake, abdominal fat weight and triglyceride concentration. Conversely, combinations of L-carnitine and gemfibrozil significantly increased the heart weight. There were no effects of L-carnitine and gemfibrozil on eviscerated carcass weight nor on liver weight. Dietary L-carnitine and gemfibrozil together influence measures of performance, fat distribution and carcass quality in broiler chickens.

The effects of dietary L-carnitine and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood and rumen metabolites of Holstein Young bulls

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of L-carnitine (LC) and rumen-protected choline (RPC) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood and rumen metabolites of finishing bulls. Twenty-eight Holstein young bulls (average initial weigh 310±24 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and seven replicates with 2×2 factorial arrangement for 90 days. Basal diets were formulated for 14% crude protein and 1.14 Mcal/kg of net energy for growth and contained 24% of dietary dry matter (DM) as corn silage, 6.8% alfalfa hay, 46.50% barley grain and 9.5% canola meal. Treatments included: (1) without LC and RPC or control; (2) 4g/d LC head−1; (3) 5 g/d RPC head-1; (4) 4 g/d LC head−1 and 5 g/d RPC head−1. Calves were fed ad libitum and had free access to fresh water. There were no differences between diets for DM intake, average daily gain and gain:feed. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyrate, cholestrol and aspartate aminotransferase were not affected by treatments, but plasma triglyceride concentration decreased in calves fed RPC (P < 0.05). Longissimus muscle area, pelvic, kidney, heart and rumen and intestine fats were not affected by treatments. Subcutaneous fat and backfat thickness decreased in calves fed RPC (P < 0.05). LC and RPC had no significant effects on chemical composition of meat and liver (protein, fat, ash and dry mater). There was no significant difference between diets for rumen liquor volatile fatty acid and pH. This study showed that LC and RPC supplements cannot affect growth performance in Holstein young bulls, but lipid metabolism may be affected by LC and RPC.

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and dried distillers grains with solubles on growth, carcass characteristics, and loin and fat quality of growing-finishing pigs1,2

A total of 1104 barrows and gilts (PIC 337 × 1050, Pig Improvement Company, Hendersonville, TN), weighing 36 ± 1 kg were used in a 109-d study to evaluate effects of dietary L-carnitine and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth, carcass traits, and loin and fat quality. Pigs were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 6 treatments, with 7 pens per treatment. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial, with main effects of DDGS (30% in Phases 1, 2, and 3, and 20% in Phase 4) and L-carnitine (0, 50, or 100 mg/kg). Overall (d 0 to 109), dietary L-carnitine tended to improve ADG (linear, P = 0.07). Pigs fed 50 mg/kg L-carnitine but no DDGS had greater G:F than pigs fed 0 or 100 mg/kg, whereas when diets containing DDGS were fed, 50 mg/kg of L-carnitine reduced G:F compared with pigs fed 0 or 100 mg/kg (quadratic DDGS × L-carnitine, P < 0.01). There was no effect of DDGS × L-carnitine for any carcass traits, but pigs fed increasing dietary inclusion levels of L-carnitine produced heavier HCW (quadratic, P = 0.03), greater carcass yields (quadratic, P = 0.07), and greater fat depths (quadratic, P = 0.04), with the greatest response observed in pigs fed 50 mg/kg dietary L-carnitine. Feeding L-carnitine increased purge loss (linear, P = 0.03), whereas feeding DDGS tended to decrease (P = 0.06) LM marbling scores. The LM from pigs fed 50 mg/kg L-carnitine and DDGS had lower shear force values compared with LM chops from pigs fed either 0 or 100 mg/kg; however, shear force values were similar across dietary L-carnitine levels in diets devoid of DDGS (quadratic DDGS × L-carnitine, P < 0.01). Furthermore, increasing L-carnitine in DDGS diets increased fresh LM color scores, but pigs fed DDGS-free diets produced LM chops with similar subjective color scores (linear DDGS × L-carnitine, P = 0.03). As expected, feeding DDGS increased (P < 0.001) iodine value (IV) in jowl fat samples, but dietary L-carnitine did not alter IV. The concentrations of C18:2n-6 and C20:2 were decreased with increasing L-carnitine in DDGS-containing diets, but not in diets without DDGS (linear DDGS × L-carnitine, P ≤ 0.04). Results of this study indicate that dietary DDGS did not affect growth, but led to more unsaturation of jowl fat, whereas feeding 50 mg/kg of L-carnitine improved HCW and reduced C18:2n-6 in jowl fat when fed in combination with DDGS.

Effects of dietary l-carnitine, plant proteins and lipid levels on growth performance, body composition, blood traits and muscular carnitine status in juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

This study was carried out to understand the possible effects of supplemental dietary l-carnitine on the growth, body composition, blood traits and carnitine status in silver perch. A 2×2×2 factorial design was utilized to formulate the experimental diets, which contained plant protein sources to replace 0 or 70% of fish meal protein with 10 or 18% dietary lipid were supplemented with or without l-carnitine at 400mgkg−1. The juvenile fish (mean weight: 9.67±1.04g) were fed one of these isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets in triplicate for 10weeks. Results showed that supplemental dietary l-carnitine significantly enhanced growth performance and feed utilization, meanwhile the addition of l-carnitine to the diet that was low in fishmeal and low in fat resulted in a lowering of ammonia excretion and a higher feed efficiency. The dietary lipid level significantly influenced the hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat ratio, while the intraperitoneal fat ratio of silver perch was noticeably reduced by the addition of l-carnitine in diets. The total plasma lipid, triacylglycerols and cholesterol values of the fish were altered by the dietary protein source or the dietary lipid level, but the effect of l-carnitine supplementation on the blood traits was unclear. Lipid contents of whole body and dorsal muscle were increased in the fish fed diets with the higher lipid level, whereas supplemented dietary l-carnitine significantly reduced the lipid contents of the whole fish. The concentrations of free carnitine and acid soluble carnitine in the muscle were higher in the silver perch that received diets supplemented with l-carnitine. The observations of this study revealed positive effects of l-carnitine supplemented in diets on growth enhancement, increases in muscular carnitine status, reduction of intraperitoneal fat ratio and the whole-body lipid contents in silver perch.

Influence of dietary l-carnitine on growth, biological traits and meat quality in Tilapia

This study was designed to determine whether l-carnitine supplementation is necessary in a tilapia diet containing low-fish meal and a high lipid level, which is beneficial economically and for the environment. The effects of dietary l-carnitine on the growth, body composition, blood traits and post-thaw drip from muscle in hybrid tilapia were investigated. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were fed to the fish with a mean body weight of 141.7 g for 168 days. The control diet contained fish meal as the major protein source with 7% lipid. Other diets contained 7% or 12% lipid, in which fish meal was largely replaced by plant proteins, and supplemented with l-carnitine or not. Results showed that supplemental dietary l-carnitine did not affect the growth performance, feed efficiency or protein efficiency ratio, while the supplementation significantly reduced the mesenteric fat ratio. Whole body and muscle proximate compositions were unaltered by any dietary treatment. The total plasma lipid, triacylglycerol and cholesterol values of tilapia fed diets with alternative plant proteins were significantly lower than those of the control fish, whereas increasing the dietary lipid content increased the aforementioned blood traits. A decrease in plasma ammonia and an increase in urea were observed in dietary l-carnitine-supplemented fish. Post-thaw drip from muscle was reduced in fish fed supplemental dietary l-carnitine. The observations of this study revealed that neither the growth performance nor the feed utilization of hybrid tilapia was improved by a dietary l-carnitine treatment, but that it did lead to a reduced mesenteric fat ratio, altered nitrogen metabolism and improved meat quality.

Effect of dietary supplemental l-carnitine on growth performance, body composition and antioxidant status in juvenile black sea bream,Sparus macrocephalus

Effects of dietary l-carnitine were studied in juvenile black sea bream (Sparus macrocephalus). The semipurified basal diet [crude protein 450 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM); crude lipid 126 g kg⁻¹ DM] was formulated to choose white fishmeal as the protein source and fish oil plus corn oil (1 : 1) as the lipid source. Six diets (control + diets 1-5) containing 0.1, 0.12, 0.16, 0.24, 0.39 and 1.1 g of l-carnitine kg⁻¹ diet were fed to triplicate groups of black sea bream (initial weight 13.10 ± 0.05 g) for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, growth performance, body composition and antioxidant status were determined. The results showed that relative growth rate (RGR) was significantly improved by the elevation of dietary l-carnitine level from 0.1 to 0.24 g kg⁻¹, but decreased with further increment (P < 0.05). Lipid content decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the dorsal muscle whereas increased (P < 0.05) in the liver with the addition of dietary l-carnitine. Dietary l-carnitine supplements elevated enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione-S-transferase, GST) activities (P < 0.05) yet decreased the content of non-enzymatic factor, total sulphydryl groups (TSH) (P < 0.05). In summary, the optimum dietary l-carnitine level was 0.284 g kg⁻¹ diet by second-polynomial regression analysis based on RGR (y = -647.4x² +367.97x + 234.55; R² = 0.977, x = dietary l-carnitine levels, y = RGR), and dietary l-carnitine addition within the levels adopted in our study could depress lipid peroxidation in tissues of juvenile black sea bream.

Evaluation of dietary l-carnitine or garlic powder on growth performance, dry matter and nitrogen digestibilities, blood profiles and meat quality in finishing pigs

The effects of dietary l-carnitine or garlic powder supplementation on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) for dry matter and nitrogen (N), blood profiles and meat quality were investigated in a 10-week feed trial. A total of 80 [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 59 ± 1.8 kg were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with five replications per treatment and four pigs per pen. A maize–soybean meal-based diet was formulated as a control diet and other treatment diets were supplemented with 250 mg l-carnitine/kg and 1 g garlic powder/kg or 2 g garlic powder/kg, respectively. After the feeding period, meat samples were collected from those pigs, which reached market body weight (BW). During the feeding period, growth performance was not affected by dietary treatments. CTTAD for both DM and N were improved by supplementation of 1 g garlic powder/kg (P<0.05). White blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte concentrations were increased by l-carnitine addition at the end of experiment whereas garlic powder supplementation did not affect any tested blood profiles. Backfat thickness was decreased and muscle percentage was increased by the l-carnitine supplementation (P<0.05). Pigs administrated with 1 g garlic powder/kg had better meat colour, pH value and water holding capacity (WHC). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of l-carnitine (250 mg/kg) can increase WBC and lymphocyte concentration and decrease backfat thickness, while garlic powder supplementation at the level of 1 g/kg can improve CTTAD and meat quality in finishing pigs.

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 at different supplemental ages on growth performance and some immune response in ascites-susceptible broilers

Effects of dietary L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at different supplemental ages on performance and some immune response were investigated in ascites-susceptible broilers. A 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design was used consisting of L-carnitine supplementation (0, 75, and 100 mg/kg), CoQ10 supplementation (0 and 40 mg/kg) and different supplemental ages (from day 1 on and from day 10 on). A total of 480 one-day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 12 groups, every group had five replicates, each with eight birds. The birds were fed a corn-soybean based diet for six weeks. From day 10 – 21, all the birds were exposed to a low ambient temperature (12 – 15°C) to increase the susceptibility to ascites. No significant effects were observed on growth performance by L-carnitine, CoQ10 supplementation, and different supplemental ages. Packed cell volume was significantly decreased by L-carnitine supplementation alone, and ascites heart index and ascites mortality were decreased by L-carnitine, CoQ10 supplementation alone, and L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation together (p < 0.05). Heart index of broilers was significantly improved by L-carnitine, CoQ10 supplementation alone during 0 – 3 week. Serum IgG content was improved by L-carnitine supplementation alone (p < 0.05), but lysozyme activity was increased by L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation together (p < 0.05). A significant L-carnitine by supplemental age interaction was observed in lysozyme activity. L-carnitine supplementation alone had no effects on the peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation in response to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide, but supplemental CoQ10 alone and L-carnitine + CoQ10 together decreased the PBL proliferation in response to ConA (p < 0.05). The present study suggested that L-carnitine + CoQ10 supplementation together had positive effects on some immune response of ascites-susceptible broilers, which might benefit for the reduction of broilers' susceptibility to ascites.

Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine and Protein Level on Plasma Carnitine, Energy and Carnitine Balance, and Carnitine Biosynthesis of 20 kg Pigs

Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine and Protein Level on Plasma Carnitine, Energy and Carnitine Balance, and Carnitine Biosynthesis of 20 kg Pigs

Effects of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance of nursery pigs (2000)

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of added dietary Lcarnitine on growth performance of nursery pigs. Pigs were fed a control diet containing no added L-carnitine or the control diet with 25, 50, 75, or 100 ppm of added L-carnitine (25, 50, or 100 ppm in Exp. 4). In Exps. 1, 2, and 3 for the overall study, ADG and F/G improved with increasing dietary L-carnitine. In Exp. 4, pigs fed increasing L-carnitine had improved ADG from d 0 to 3 and d 10 to 24. Increasing added carnitine improved F/G from d 10 to 24 and for the overall study. The results suggest that 25 to 50 ppm of added L-carnitine can improve ADG and F/G in nursery pigs. The largest response in pig growth performance was found when carnitine was supplemented to the phase II diet.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 16, 2000

Effects of dietary L-carnitine on the performance and egg quality of laying hens from 65-73 weeks of age.

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation (50-500 mg/kg diet) of a practical layer diet, based on maize, soyabean and wheat, on the performance of laying hens and some indices of egg quality were studied for 8 weeks, using 65-week-old hens kept in cages. Albumen quality (albumen height and Haugh (1937) unit score) was improved, while yolk index and yolk colour score were not affected by dietary L-carnitine. The percentage of egg-white increased and that of egg yolk decreased in response to dietary supplementation of L-carnitine. Dietary L-carnitine did not influence laying performance (egg production rate, mean egg weight, daily feed intake, daily egg mas and feed conversion) or external egg quality measured by egg weight, egg-shape index or by eggshell quality, either measured directly as shell breaking strength or indirectly as shell weight, shell thickness or shell weight per unit surface area. Based on the results of the present study, L-carnitine had a beneficial effect on albumen quality and could modify the components of the edible part of the egg, during the late laying period.

The Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine on Anaerobic Exercise Lactate in Elite Male Athletes

The Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine on Anaerobic Exercise Lactate in Elite Male Athletes

The Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine on Anaerobic Exercise Lactate in Elite Male Athletes

The Effects of Dietary L-Carnitine on Anaerobic Exercise Lactate in Elite Male Athletes

Effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth, carcass characteristics, and metabolism of swine (1996)

Effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth, carcass characteristics, and metabolism of swine (1996)

Effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth, carcass characteristics, and metabolism of swine (1996)

Thirty six Yorkshire gilts (initially 123 lb BW) were used to investigate the effect of dietary carnitine on growth performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid oxidation, and enzyme kinetics. Dietary carnitine reduced fat deposition in favor of protein deposition, stimulated fatty acid oxidation, induced the expression of pyruvate carboxylase, increased the capacity of pyruvate carboxylase flux, and decreased the capacity of branch chain keto dehydrogenase.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 21, 1996

The effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and tissue accretion rates in the early-weaned pig (1994)

The effect of dietary L-carnitine on growth performance and tissue accretion rates in the early-weaned pig (1994)

The effect of dietary L-carnitine on the growth performance in fingerlings of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in relation to dietary lipid.

The effect of dietary L-carnitine on the growth and growth efficiency of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) fingerlings was investigated. Six dietary levels of L-carnitine, varying from the control level (about 125 mg/kg) to 3920 mg/kg, were each tested at two dietary lipid levels (96 and 155 g/kg). The diets were isonitrogenous and were fed to thirty-six experimental groups of 100 fish weighing 5 g at a feeding level of 25.2 g/kg live weight (w)0.8 per d, during 18 d. The average final weight varied from 19.1 to 28.0 g. At a dietary lipid level of 96 g/kg the metabolic growth increased from 30.8 to 36.5 g/kg w0.8 per d. At the higher dietary lipid level the metabolic growth increased from 30.9 to 35.4 g/kg w0.8 per d. To assess the dose-response relationship between dietary L-carnitine and growth performance in the African catfish a linear-plateau model was fitted to the experimental data. According to this model, metabolic growth was at a maximum at L-carnitine levels of 500 mg/kg and above at a lipid level of 96 g/kg and at L-carnitine levels of 684 mg/kg and above at a lipid level of 155 g/kg. The fitted maximum metabolic growth was higher at a dietary lipid level of 96 g/kg (35.9 g/kg w0.8 per d) than at 155 g/kg (34.7 g/kg w0.8 per d). Feed conversion improved significantly with increasing dietary levels of L-carnitine, reaching a fitted plateau at L-carnitine levels of 448.8 and 236.7 mg/kg respectively for the high and low dietary fat levels. Other growth efficiency variables, e.g. protein efficiency ratio, protein retention and energy retention improved accordingly. Taking into consideration that all fish received the same amount of feed, the results of the present study demonstrate that the positive effect of increased levels of dietary L-carnitine is the result of an improved feed utilization, probably because of a stimulated protein-sparing action.