Effect of L-carnitine on plasma glycemic and lipidemic profile in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Apr;59(4):592-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602109.

Abstract

Objective: We designed this study to investigate the effects of oral L-carnitine administration on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus type II.

Patients and methods: The effect of L-carnitine on FPG and lipid parameters was investigated in 22 male and 13 female type II diabetic patients; the mean age +/- s.d. was 51.3 +/- 3.7 y. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups (L-carnitine and placebo group) and 1 g of L-carnitine or of placebo was given orally three times a day for a period of 12 weeks.

Results: FPG in the L-carnitine group decreased significantly from 143 +/- 35 to 130 +/- 33 mg/dl (P = 0.03), and we observed a significant increase of triglycerides (TG) from 196+/-61 to 233+/-12 mg/dl (P = 0.05), of Apo A1 from 94 +/- 20 to 103 +/- 23 mg/dl (P = 0.02), and of Apo B100 from 98 +/- 18 to 108 +/- 22 mg/dl (P = 0.02) after 12 weeks of treatment. There was no significant change in LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1C, LP(a) or total cholesterol.

Conclusion: L-Carnitine significantly lowers FPG but increases fasting triglyceride in type II diabetic patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Apolipoproteins / blood
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects*
  • Carnitine / pharmacology*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fasting / physiology
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Iran
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Time Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Lipids
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Carnitine