engleski

Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on some biochemical parameters in blood serum of sedentary population

L-carnitine is a compound normally found in a human body. It can be synthesised within the body from the amino acids lysine or methionine or ingested by food. Because of its role in a transport of fatty acids from cytosol into mitochondrion, a consumption of L-carnitine became popular among athletes, and/or as a weight loss supplement. Numerous studies have been undertaken, mostly on athletes, to investigate side effects of additional carnitine intake, but the results are inconsistent. In an attempt to obtain more conclusive evidence on the effect of L-carnitine supplementation within sedentary population on some biochemical parameters in blood serum, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out. Eighteen healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 33, with declared sedentary activities were included. They were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving 2 g/day of L-carnitine and the other receiving placebo (starch) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken on the beginning and three times during the experiment. In serum, concentration of glucose (GLC), triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol (CHOL), free fatty acids (FFA) and creatinine was determined, as well as the activity of some enzymes (AST, ALT, CK, LDH). Under these conditions, L-carnitine administration induced no statistically significant changes in the concentration of GLC, TG, CHOL and creatinine or in enzymes activity. The only observed effect was a decline in FFA concentration. The average concentration of FFA in treated group decreased, from 0.621 mmol/L at the beginning, to 0.278 mmol/L at the end of the experiment, reaching the statistical significance, although there was no significant difference between two groups in the average FFA value. These results show that additional ingestion of 2 g of L-carnitine per day can alter fatty acid metabolism in human body, possibly by improved transport of fatty acids through a mitochondrial membrane.

L-Carnitine; blood serum; cholesterol; triacylglycerols; free fatty acids

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