Mg Of L-carnitine Research Articles

Effects of l-carnitine on frailty status in patients with liver cirrhosis: A randomized-controlled trial.

Frailty is a common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis, which is linked with augmented rates of morbidity and mortality. In this regard, timely nutritional assessment and intervention have gained scientific attention. L-carnitine may be a promising candidate with its potential to enhance energy metabolism, reduce inflammation, and act as an antioxidant. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of l-carnitine supplementation on frailty status and liver function in adults with liver cirrhosis. This double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial study enrolled 77 patients with liver cirrhosis. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the control group (n = 42) and the l-carnitine group (n = 35). The l-carnitine group received 500 mg of l-carnitine orally three times a day for 8 weeks, while the control group did not receive any intervention. L-carnitine administration resulted in a significant decrease in alanine transaminase levels (p: 0.043) and partial thromboplastin time (p: 0.036). Furthermore, compared to the control group, l-carnitine treatment led to improvements in prothrombin time (p: 0.008) and international normalized ratio (p: 0.024). However, no significant improvement in the Liver Frailty Index, Freid Frailty Index, and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (p > 0.05) was observed in the carnitine group after the 8-week intervention period. In conclusion, the administration of l-carnitine exhibited hepatoprotective properties and was correlated with lowered alanine transaminaselevels with improvement in coagulation status in liver cirrhosis patients. Nevertheless, our study indicated that the short-term use of l-carnitine might not significantly improve frailty in these patients.

Impact of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on blood parameters and duodenal alterations in laying hens at the end of production

L-carnitine is an important nutritional supplement in the poultry industry, contributing to improved growth, production, and overall health of the birds. However, by the end of the production cycle, the endogenous synthesis of L-carnitine (LC) is often insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on blood parameters and duodenal structure in Ross laying hens during the last production phase. A total of 40 Ross strain laying hens, aged 70 weeks, were selected. The control group was administered a basal diet, while the experimental groups received the same diet supplemented with 100, 250, or 500 mg of L-carnitine per kg of the basal diet. The experimental period lasted for 56 days. Serum concentrations of cholesterol and total protein were not significantly affected by L-carnitine supplementation; however, triglyceride concentration and LDL levels were notably reduced. Furthermore, L-carnitine supplementation enhanced the villus perimeter and increased the villus length/crypt depth ratio. Importantly, the supplementation of 250 mg/kg of L-carnitine had a positive impact on duodenum structure and led to decreased levels of AST and ALP. In conclusion, the incorporation of 250 mg/kg of L-carnitine into the diet of laying hens significantly improved duodenal structure, reduced lipid peroxidation, and demonstrated antioxidant effects.

Mitochondrial disorders in patients with familial form of MERRF syndrome

MERRF syndrome (myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fibres) belongs to the group of primary mitochondrial diseases and is characterized by a combination of myoclonic epilepsy and the phenomenon of ragged red fibres on muscle biopsy. The aim of this work is to study mitochondrial disorders in patients from a family with MERRF syndrome by determining the cytochemical activity of mitochondrial enzymes in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the level of lactate in the blood. Clinical cases of a 25-year-old sister and a 19-year-old brother with MERRF syndrome with the m.8344A>G variant in MT-TK (tRNA (Lys)) with a blood heteroplasmy level of 50 % in the sister and homoplasmy in the brother are presented. Mitochondrial disorders were assessed by blood lactate levels and cytochemical studies of mitochondrial enzyme activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Pre-prandial blood lactate levels were elevated in both patients. After a carbohydrate load, it increased in the sister, and decreased in the brother. The sister had decreased activity of peripheral blood lymphocyte enzymes while taking levetiracetam, 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 and 100 mg of L-carnitine. The dose of energotropic drugs was increased, which led to an increase in the activity of mitochondrial enzymes. The brother had a compensatory increase in the level of succinate dehydrogenase and a decrease in the activity of other enzymes. The methods we used can be used in clinical practice to diagnose mitochondrial disorders and to adjust the dosage of energotropic drugs, which remain relevant due to the lack of effective gene therapy.

EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN THREE LINES OF KURDISH QUAILS (COTURNIX COTURNIX)

This study was aimed to assess the impact of genetic groups (comprising three distinct lines of Kurdish quails, which are desert, brown, and white), graded levels of L-carnitine and their interaction on the performance of growth traits and blood parameters. For this purpose, the same basic diet was given to 480 Kurdish quail chicks one day old, which was then supplemented for two to seven weeks of age with 0 (control), 150, 350, or 550 mg of L-carnitine per kg of diet. The statistical analysis showed that the lines, L-carnitine supplementation, and their interaction had a significant (p≤0.01) impact on the Kurdish quail's blood parameters, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, body weight, and body weight gain. The desert lines exhibited significantly higher growth performance values in all weeks. Furthermore, supplementation with 350 and 550 mg/kg L-carnitine throughout the experimental period significantly improved these characteristics compared to the control group, with the other experimental treatment (150 mg L-carnitine/kg diet) having the highest values. As well as for the interacted groups, the desert lines with diet of 350 mg/kg L-carnitine had significant influence on body weight, and weight gain. On the other hand, the white lines with a diet of 350 mg/kg L-carnitine showed significantly (P≤0.01) better feed intake and better feed conversion ratio than all other treatments in the same period. It was concluded that L-carnitine supplementation at 350 and 550 mg/kg was sufficient to improve growth characteristics and blood parameters in Kurdish quail lines.

Desempenho zootécnico, grau de esteatose e potencial genotóxico de lambaris Astyanax lacustris alimentados com diferentes níveis de L-carnitina

ABSTRACT L-carnitine perform a major role in transporting long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are oxidized. It has been used in animal diets to decrease fat and increase muscle protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the zootechnical performance, degree of steatosis in the liver, and genotoxic potential in Astyanax lacustris fed with different levels of L-carnitine (LC). Yellowtail tetra juveniles (n = 140) were distributed in 20 tanks of 70 L, with seven fish in each, in a water recirculation system with controlled temperature (27±0.1⁰C). The treatments with different levels of L-carnitine supplementation were: 0 (control), 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg of LC per kg of food. The diets were provided twice a day for 60 days. The results showed that the different levels of LC did not affect (P>0.05) weight gain, survival, viscerosomatic index, and the liver hepatocytes showed a normal appearance. However, the use of LC supplementation showed genotoxic potential with a significant difference (P<0.05) for cell alterations when compared to the control at concentrations above 500mg kg-1.

Effects of Combined L-Carnitine Supplementation and Moderate-Intensity Exercises on Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Responses in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION: Obesity has been associated to persistent oxidative stress and inflammation that could lead to chronic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty[1]eight overweight and obese participants aged 29.03 ± 6.02 years old were randomly assigned, with 17 participants per group, into sedentary control (C), L-carnitine supplement alone (S), exercise alone (E), and combined L-carnitine supplementation and exercise (SE) groups. The participants in S and SE groups took one tablet of 1000 mg of L-carnitine every day. The E and SE groups performed brisk walking exercise for 30 minutes at 50% HRmax followed by Tabata exercise for 10 to 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week. During pre- and post-tests, blood markers of participants were assessed to determine their reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. All the observed parameters were analysed using two-way mixed ANOVA for repeated measures to determine significant differences within and between the groups and comparisons of mean differences were performed using one way ANOVA. RESULTS: Results showed that there were significant decreases in ROS and MDA in the S, E, and SE groups at post-test after 12 weeks of intervention. The greatest reduction of these parameters were observed in SE group among all groups. At the post-test, both CAT and SOD levels increased in the S, E, and SE groups. Regarding IL-6, it was found to be increased in C and E groups. In contrast, there were significant decreases in S and SE groups following the intervention. CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks of L-carnitine supplementation and engagement in brisk walking and Tabata exercise had significant improvement on oxidative stress, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory responses in overweight and obese individuals.

Effects of dietary carnitine supplementation on semen output and quality of boars

Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that performs the functions of increasing energy production as well as acting as an antioxidant for sperm cells. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the inclusion of carnitine in boar diets on semen output and quality. Sixty-four purebred and hybrid boars at a commercial boar stud were blocked by age and semen quality and randomly allotted to receive a daily 30 g top-dress of either soybean meal (CON) or soybean meal and 625 mg of L-Carnitine (CARN). Supplementation lasted for 12 weeks from May to July 2021 during which weekly semen collection was performed. Semen was evaluated in the stud for concentration and motility parameters using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Samples were shipped to Purdue University for detailed morphology, viability, and CASA analysis performed in samples stored at 17 °C for 5 days. PROC Mixed (SAS v 9.4) was used to analyze data, with boar nested within treatment used in repeated measures analysis. Semen quality estimates from the week before supplementation were used as covariates in the statistical model. Tukey-Kramer adjustment was used for means separation. Carnitine supplementation had no effects on total sperm produced (P = 0.35). Percentage of motile sperm cells (P = 0.63), morphologically normal sperm (P = 0.42), viable sperm (P = 0.43), or sperm with normal acrosomes (P = 0.61) in the ejaculates were not different among treatments. Sperm kinematics in CARN ejaculates tended to have greater straight-line velocity and distance (P = 0.06 and P = 0.07, respectively). There were several interactions of treatment and day of storage for the kinematic parameters. However, these interactions do not show observable trends for CARN to improve or depress sperm function. Overall, the inclusion of 625 mg/d of carnitine in the diet of boars for 12 weeks had no effects on sperm output or quality with minor changes to sperm cell kinematics.

Oral Bioavailability of Deuterated L‐carnitine in Healthy Volunteers

BACKGROUND Deuterium, the stable isotope of hydrogen was discovered in 1931. Since then the use of deuterated molecules have allowed several advancements in the field of chemical biology. For example: in elucidating mechanisms of reactions, tracking metabolic products, and more recently, the enhancement of pharmacokinetic parameters in already existing drugs. L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative, quaternary ammonium molecule with hygroscopic properties that displays an essential role in the fatty acid metabolism in mammals. L-carnitine is an example of a molecule that is both endogenously synthetized and exogenously administered in the forms of dietary products, supplements, and medicine. This poses a challenge differentiating the source of L-carnitine measured in plasma. OBJECTIVES Our study, aims to use deuterated molecules in pharmacokinetics, for distinguishing endogenous synthesized molecules from exogenously administered ones, like L-carnitine. We have developed a method based on deuteration and posterior detection of L- carnitine using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). METHODS The study was conducted over an open, four period with a 1-week washout interval and six healthy subjects were recruited. Capsules containing 500 mg of L-carnitine which contained different doses of deuterated (D3) L-carnitine (10,30,100 and 100mg of D3 L-carnitine and 490,470 and 400mg of L-carnitine) in each period were administered to each participant. Plasma L-carnitine D3 concentrations were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) with multiple reactions monitoring (MRM). The method linearity ranged from 10 to 1000 ng/mL. RESULTS The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from the L-carnitine D3 plasma concentration vs. time curves: AUClast (72.16, 613.48, 2450.29ng*h/mL [mean]), Cmax (19.25, 75.59, 216.79 ng/mL[mean]) and Tmax (3.5, 3.5, 3.5 h [median]) for 10 mg, 30 mg and 100 mg, respectively. The coefficient of variation for rate and extent of absorption were 55.37% and 65.10% (ratio 3/4 period; 100 mg), respectively. Linearity between the pharmacokinetic parameters was demonstrated by Pearson Correlation. The plasma concentrations showed correlation with dose (10, 30 and 100 mg). CONCLUSION This shows that deuterated L-carnitine displays a high variability coefficient and demonstrates linearity among doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg. These results are consistent with previous literature. The method presented here adds to the existing consensus that deuteration is valuable in studying the pharmacokinetics of endogenously synthesized substances.

Effects of dietary L-carnitine on puberty indices in the young breeder rooster

The aim of current study was to investigate the effect of dietary L-Carnitine (LC) in immature roosters on reproductive hormones, lipid profile and testicular histology at the time of maturity. Eighteen 12-wk-old breeder roosters (Ross 308) of similar weights were randomly allocated into 3 dietary treatments (LC-0: basic diet, LC-250: basic diet + 250 mg LC/kg of diet, LC-500: basic diet + 500 mg of LC/kg of diet) in 6 replicates. The feeding program and photoperiod regimen were performed based on ROSS 308 management handbook. Dietary LC supplementation markedly improved testicle weight and testicle index (p < 0.05). Comb height was also affected by LC supplementation (p < 0.05). The testicle weight and index, comb height, and shank lengths improved linearly with increasing levels of dietary LC (p < 0.05). The LC-250 and LC-500 diets significantly improved the number of sertoli cells (NSC), height epithelium seminiferous tubules (HEST), seminiferous tubules diameter (STD), spermiogenesis index (SI) and tubular differentiation index (TDI) of rooster's testis tissue (p < 0.05). The number of seminiferous tubules (NST) was affected by of the amount of LC (p < 0.05). The roosters on the LC-250 mg/kg diet had longer HEST compared to roosters that received the LC-500 mg/kg diet (p < 0.05). Testicular histology parameters increased in a linear and quadratic manner in response to increasing levels of LC (p < 0.05). Dietary LC significantly increased (p < 0.05) plasma concentrations of testosterone, GnRH, LH, FSH and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), but reduced the plasma concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL). However, no significant differences were observed between LC-250 and LC-500 groups in these parameters. Plasma testosterone, GnRH, LH, LDL and HDL were affected in a linear and quadratic manner in response to increasing levels of LC (p < 0.05). Similarly, FSH increased linearly with increasing dietary LC (p < 0.05). Thus, adding up to 250 mg of LC per kg of diet of the rooster chicken can improve reproductive hormones, blood lipids and testicular histology parameters at the time of maturity.

Carnitine status before and after paracentesis in patients with ascites and liver cirrhosis and improvement of subjective symptoms by intravenous administration of carnitine ― Initial study

Carnitine status before and after paracentesis in patients with ascites and liver cirrhosis and improvement of subjective symptoms by intravenous administration of carnitine ― Initial study

Liver-Oriented Acute Metabolic Effects of A Low Dose of L-Carnitine under Fat-Mobilizing Conditions: Pilot Human Clinical Trial.

The acute metabolic effect of low dosages of L-carnitine under fat-mobilizing conditions was investigated. Healthy subjects (Study 1: n=5; Study 2: n=6) were asked to fast overnight. Then, 30 min of aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer was performed after supplementation, followed by a 3.5-h sedentary recovery phase. The following ingestion patterns were used: Study 1 (i) noningestion, (ii) 750 mg of L-carnitine (LC), and (iii) 750 mg of LC+50 g of carbohydrate (CHO); Study 2 (iv) noningestion, (v) 500 mg of LC, (vi) 30 mg of CoQ10, and (vii) 500 mg of LC+30 mg of CoQ10. The energy expenditure (EE) and nonprotein respiratory quotient (npRQ) were measured during the pre-exercise, postexercise, and recovery periods. Serum free carnitine, acetylcarnitine, total carnitine (Study 1 and 2), and ketone bodies (Study 2) were measured. The 750 mg LC treatment significantly facilitated fat oxidation during the recovery phases (p<0.05) without elevating EE. The higher fat oxidation associated with LC was completely suppressed by CHO. CoQ10 affected neither npRQ nor EE. npRQ was significantly correlated with the serum total ketone bodies (R=-0.68, p<0.001) and acetylcarnitine (R=-0.61--0.70, p<0.001). The highest correlation was found between acetylcarnitine and total ketone bodies immediately after exercise (R=0.85, p<0.001). In conclusion, LC enhanced liver fat utilization and ketogenesis in an acute manner without stimulating EE under fat-mobilizing conditions.

The Effect of Aerobic Training and L- Carnitine on BCL2 and Mitochondrial Enzymes of Rat's Kidney

Objective: Diabetes causes free radical production, oxidative stress and alterations in mitochondrial enzymes and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise and consumption of L-carnitine on BCL2 and some mitochondrial enzymes of the kidney in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 45 male wistar rats (200-300 gr) were simple randomly divided into six groups: 1) placebo group, 2) healthy control group, 3) diabetic control group, 4) diabetic group receiving L- carnitine, 5) diabetic group of aerobic training and 6) diabetic group of aerobic training and recipient of L-carnitine. Rats with a serum glucose level higher than 300 mg/ dL were considered diabetic. L-carnitine recipients received 100 mg of L-carnitine daily orally. The dependent variables of the study were measured 24 hours after the last training program session by ELISA in kidney tissue. Data were analyzed by Shapiro- Wilk and two way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test at P -value&lt; 0.05. Results: The results showed that the combined effect of aerobic training and supplementation of L-carnitine on Bcl2 factor of kidney tissue of rats with diabetes has a significant effect ( P -value: 0.019). But aerobic exercise ( P -value: 0.969) and supplementation of Lcarnitine ( P -value: 0.584) were not significant. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the combined effect of aerobic exercise and supplementation of L-carnitine on CPT2 and Malonyl COa and Bcl2 have a significant effect on the kidney of diabetic rats. Also, exercise alone and consumption of Lcarnitine alone do not have a significant effect.

DYNAMICS OF FUNCTIONAL CONDITION SEEDMANS AND LIVER IN MEN WITH INFERTILITY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ARGININ THERAPY WITH THE COMPLEX OF L-CARNITIN AND BETAINЕ

The aim of this work was to study the hormonal status androgen-dependent indicators of the ejaculate, spermatogram parameters and liver transaminases in the blood of the infertile males for the treatment of arginine, carnitine and betaine. Materials and methods: The parameters of spermograms, the levels of testosterone, estradiol, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the blood, and concentration of fructose in the ejaculate of 31 men with idiopathic pathospermia before and after using the L-Betargin, which contains 1 gram of arginine, 300 mg of L-carnitine and 1 gram of betaine. Results: It is shown that after treatment there is an increase of sperm concentration and their motility, increase the level of fructose in the ejaculate. It is established that the positive effect on spermatogenesis, L-Betargin associated with activation of endocrine function of the testes, improving the androgen-estrogen balance and functional state of the liver in men with infertility. Conclusions: The use of L-Betargin for a month in men with idiopathic pathospermia leads to an increase in the concentration of sperm and increase their motility, while normalizing all parameters of the spermogram.

Effect of antioxidant supplementation containing L-carnitine on semen parameters: a prospective interventional study.

Objective:One of the remarkable causes of infertility in men is oxidative stress having a reducing effect on their reproductive function. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of supplementation with antioxidants and L-Carnitine (contained in Androferti) on semen parameters.Methods:We included 180 infertile male patients diagnosed with idiopathic oligoastenoteratozoospermia (OAT) in this study, and we analyzed the semen sample from 59 patients before and after oral antioxidant treatment, with the commercial name of Androferti (containing 1500 mg of L-Carnitine, 60 mg of vitamin C, 20 mg of coenzyme Q10, 10 mg of vitamin E, 10 mg of zinc, 200 µg of vitamin B9, 50 µg of selenium, 1 µg of vitamin B12). All of the patients received Androferti twice a day for 3 months. Results:There were significant improvements in the sperm concentration (p=0.004) after the antioxidant supplementation. There was also a meaningfully improvement in sperm morphology (p=0.01) after treatment. However, sperm motility was not significantly altered after antioxidant treatment (p=0.2).Conclusions:Antioxidants supplementation containing 1500 mg L-carnitine can improve the semen quality in infertile men diagnosed with idiopathic OAT. However, further studies are required to determine the antioxidant effects on reproduction function.

Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammatory marker of coronary artery disease

Background: L-carnitine (LC) might have the potential to control inflammation by reduction of major inflammatory cytokines, including CRP. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the effect of LC supplementation on CRP levels in CAD patients.Methods: 50 subjects comprised placebo group who received standard line of treatment for coronary artery disease while other 50 subjects comprised LC group who received 1000 mg of LC daily apart from standard treatment for 12 weeks. CRP levels were measured at baseline and again after 12 weeks of treatment in all subjects.Results: The participants in the LC group had significantly lower levels of CRP after 12 weeks of supplementation with LC, than at baseline (p&lt;0.01).Conclusions: We suggest that LC supplementation, due to its antioxidant effects, have potential utility to reduce inflammation in CAD.

Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen balance of broilers fed with animal fat.

Aim:This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization and nitrogen balance in broilers fed with animal fat.Materials and Methods:80 day-old Cobb commercial broiler chicks were randomly assigned into two dietary treatment groups with four replicates of ten chicks each. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The birds in both the control (T1) and treatment group (T2) were fed with a diet having 5% animal fat, while the treatment group (T2) was supplemented with 900 mg of L-carnitine. The birds were fed with standard broiler starter ration up to 4 weeks of age and finisher ration up to 6 weeks of age.Results:The average body weight (g), cumulative feed intake (g) and cumulative feed conversion ratio belonging to groups T1 and T2 at 6th week of age were 2091.25 and 2151.11, 3976.49 and 4171.68, 1.97 and 1.96 respectively. The percentage availability of the nutrients of two experimental rations T1 and T2 was 68.23 and 68.00 for dry matter, 58.72 and 55.98 for crude protein, 73.85 and 71.35 for ether extract, 34.19 and 33.86 for crude fiber, 79.18 and 79.59 for nitrogen free extract, 70.24 and 70.03 for energy efficiency and nitrogen balance (g/day) were 2.35 and 2.39, respectively.Conclusion:This study suggests that the supplementation of 900 mg L-carnitine in diet with added animal fat had no effect on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen balance of broilers.

Use of L-Carnitine in Patients with Chronic Cerebral Ischemia

The aim of the present work was to study the efficacy of L-carnitine in patients with stage 1–2 chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI). A comparative, parallel clinical trial included 60 patients (22 men, 38 woman, aged 41–74, mean 61.2 ± 8.2 years) with established diagnoses of stage 1–2 chronic cerebral ischemia. All patients received basal treatment for CCI including antihypertensive and antiaggregant agents. Group 1 included 20 patients given 1000 mg of L-carnitine per day (the biologically active additive Carnitone). Group 2 (20 patients) received the agent at a dose of 2000 mg/day. Group 3 (control group) received only basal treatment. Courses of treatment lasted 60 days. The frequency of complaints of weakness, reduced work capacity, memory degradation, headache, vertigo, and unsteadiness of gait decreased after completion of treatment. Statistically significant differences after treatment were seen in terms of the total MMSE points scores and in the “concentration of attention” and “memory” subscales; as compared with the baseline level, the durations of working with all five tables in the Schulte test decreased. Data from the asthenia MFI-20 questionnaire in patients of the study groups showed decreases in the levels of total, physical, and mental asthenization, with increases in activity and motivation level. The agent was found to have a dose-dependent effect.

Does L-carnitine therapy add any extra benefit to standard inguinal varicocelectomy in terms of deoxyribonucleic acid damage or sperm quality factor indices: a randomized study.

To evaluate if addition of L-carnitine therapy to standard varicocelectomy adds any extra benefit in terms of improvement in semen parameters or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. One hundred patients enrolled in this study and were randomly divided into 2 groups (50 patients in each group). In group 1, standard inguinal varicocelectomy and, in group 2, standard inguinal varicocelectomy plus oral antioxidant therapy (oral L-carnitine, 250 mg 3 times a day) were performed for 6 months. For all patients, routine semen analysis and DNA damage test of spermatozoa (by 2 methods of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and protamine damage assay) were performed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. In both groups, the improvement in semen analysis parameters and DNA damage was observed, but there was not any statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in these parameters, although the slope of improvement in DNA damage was slightly better in group 2 (that was not statistically significant). We observed that addition of 750 mg of L-carnitine orally daily to standard inguinal varicocelectomy does not add any extra benefit in terms of improvement in semen analysis parameters or DNA damage.

Trimethylamine generation in patients receiving hemodialysis treated with l-carnitine.

Hepatic biotransformation of gut microbiota-derived trimethylamine (TMA) to trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) may enhance cardiovascular risk [1, 2]. The source of TMA is fish-derived TMAO [3], meat-derived betaine/choline/phosphatidylcholine [1, 2], and the medicine l-carnitine [4]. There is no clear information on the metabolic fate of TMA/TMAO in patients receiving hemodialysis and treated with l-carnitine orally and intravenously. We report data showing that plasma TMA/TMAO concentrations in hemodialysis patients may be in the same range as those of healthy subjects consuming a typical diet in Japan. Fourteen subjects, randomly selected from a cohort of 18 male and 6 female Japanese patients (47–89 years) with diabetes mellitus or chronic glomerulonephritis who had undergone hemodialysis for several years, were divided into five untreated controls, five treated with 1000 mg of l-carnitine (l-Cartin injection, Otsuka, Tokyo, Japan) intravenously on 3 days (Days 1, 3 and 5) over 1 week, and four treated with 300 mg of oral l-carnitine (l-Cartin tablets, Otsuka) three times per day for 7 days. Ten healthy volunteers (22–59 years) were also enrolled. This study was approved by the ethics committees of Minami Ikebukuro Clinic and Showa Pharmaceutical University. Total carnitine and TMA/TMAO concentrations were determined by Kainos laboratories (Tokyo, Japan) and by gas chromatography [3]. Carnitine concentrations for 2–8 weeks after treatment with l-carnitine were significantly higher than those in the untreated group (Figure 1). Plasma TMA concentrations after oral treatment with l-carnitine were higher than those of the untreated group. TMAO concentrations did not increase significantly after treatments and were in the range of daily interindividual variations. In separate observations in 22 of the 24-patient cohort, pre-dialysis plasma concentrations of carnitine (33 ± 4 µM, mean ± SD), TMA (34 ± 20 µM) and TMAO (189 ± 94 µM) were decreased by hemodialysis (12 ± 8, 25 ± 8 and 140 ± 77 µM, respectively). These concentration ranges were comparable with TMA (26 ± 17 µM) and TMAO (197 ± 100 µM) in healthy volunteers (n = 10). The present plasma levels of TMA and/or TMAO in Japanese patients were one or two orders of magnitude higher than the reported concentrations in Caucasians [1, 2], but were consistent with a review of patients undergoing hemodialysis [4]. Fig. 1. Plasma concentrations of total l-carnitine (A), TMA (B) and TMAO (C) in untreated patients (circles) and in patients treated with l-carnitine intravenously (triangles) and orally (squares). The three bars are averages of the three groups (n = 4 or 5). ... Some TMA formation in a Japanese cohort treated with l-carnitine orally was confirmed, but the levels of TMA/TMAO both pre-/post-dialysis in patients not receiving l-carnitine were in the same ranges as those of the control subjects.

Effects of l-carnitine supplementation to suckling piglets on carcass and meat quality at market age

In a previous study, carnitine supplementation to piglets during the suckling period resulted in an increased total muscle fibre number at weaning in piglets of low birth weight. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether this effect is maintained until market age and whether this would attenuate the negative consequences of low birth weight on carcass and meat quality. Using a split-plot design with litter as block, sex as whole plot and treatment as subplot, the effects of early-postnatal l-carnitine supplementation on female and castrated male piglets of low birth weight were investigated on a total of 56 German Landrace piglets from 14 litters. From days 7 to 27 of age piglets were orally supplemented once daily with 400 mg of l-carnitine dissolved in 1 ml of water or received an equal volume of water without carnitine. From weaning (day 28) until slaughter (day 166 of age) all pigs were fed standard diets. At weaning, carnitine-supplemented piglets had a twofold increased concentration of free carnitine (P < 0.001) and a lower concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (P < 0.05) in blood plasma indicating that carnitine became bioavailable and increased fatty acid utilization during the period of supplementation. Growth performance was not influenced by treatment in any growth period. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry revealed no differences in body composition between groups in weeks 12, 16 and 20 of age. LW at slaughter, carcass weight, measures of meat yield and fat accretion, as well as body composition by chemical analyses and dissection of primal cuts did not differ between treatments. No differences between control and carnitine-treated pigs in total fibre number (P = 0.85) and fibre cross-sectional area (P = 0.68) in m. semitendinosus (ST) measured at slaughter could be observed. The carnitine group tended to exhibit a smaller proportion of slow-twitch oxidative fibres (P = 0.08), a greater proportion of fast-twitch glycolytic fibres (P = 0.11), and increased specific lactate dehydrogenase activity (P = 0.09) in ST indicating a more glycolytic muscle metabolism. Compared with the controls, a lower pH24 value was observed (P = 0.05) in ST muscle of carnitine-supplemented pigs, which – in castrates only – was associated with an increased drip loss (P < 0.01). Meat quality traits in m. longissimus were not influenced by treatment. In conclusion, our hypothesis that early-postnatal carnitine supplementation to piglets of low birth weight permanently increases myofibre number and improves later carcass and meat quality could not be confirmed by this experiment.