Carnitine Plays a Role in Exercise-Related Oxidative Stress

According to a recently published study, carnitine supports antioxidant activity and modulates oxidative stress after exercise. Carnitine is a naturally occurring compound synthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to quench the highly reactive molecules or repair the resulting effects of the free radicals.

Young rats in this study were divided into 3 groups: exhaustive exercise alone, exhaustive exercise plus carnitine, or the control group. The rats in the carnitine group received carnitine at a dose of 5 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. The rats in the exercise groups were submitted to exhaustive swimming exercise stress. Oxidative stress was evaluated by examination of kidney samples for levels of malondialdehyde. Antioxidant status was assessed by measurements of reduced glutathione and vitamin E levels.

The results of the study showed that exhaustive exercise increased levels of malondialdehyde, and the addition of carnitine mitigated this change. Carnitine also supported glutathione levels, but no change in kidney levels of vitamin E was found.

The study authors stated that carnitine modulated oxidative stress and supports non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in young rats submitted to exhaustive exercise stress.

Reference:

Bucioli SA, de Abreu LC, Valenti VE, Vannucchi H. Carnitine Supplementation Effects on Non-enzymatic Antioxidants in Young Rats Submitted to Exhaustive Exercise Stress. J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Sep 9. Published Online Ahead of Print.