L-Carnitine May Improve Heart Health

By VRP Staff

Oxidation is the process by which free radicals damage lipids in the body. It is this process that is thought to play a role in LDL’s heart-damaging effects. Patients with type 2 diabetes are under high oxidative stress, and levels of hyperglycemia correlate strongly with levels of LDL oxidation.

Carnitine is known to act as an antioxidant and favorably modulates oxidative stress. Consequently, researchers undertook a study to evaluate the efficacy of L–carnitine on the reduction of oxidized LDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers randomly assigned 81 patients with diabetes to 1 of 2 treatment groups for 3 months. In one group, 41 subjects received 2 grams of L–carnitine once per day, and in the second group, 40 subjects received a placebo.

At the end of the three-month study, the L–carnitine-treated patients showed significant improvements compared with the placebo group. In the subjects taking the amino acid, oxidized LDL levels decreased by 15 units per liter of blood, compared to the 3 units per liter reduction in the placebo group. LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.45 mmol/L in the L–carnitine group, compared to only 0.16 mmol/L in the placebo group. The scientists also noted improvements in triglyceride levels and reductions in apolipoprotein A1, the protein portion of a lipoprotein that is thought to play a role in high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Markers of oxidative stress also decreased in the L–carnitine group compared to the placebo group.

The researchers concluded, “Our study indicates that oral administration of L–carnitine reduces oxidized LDL cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.”

Reference:
Malaguarnera M, Vacante M, Avitabile T, Malaguarnera M, Cammalleri L, Motta M. L–Carnitine supplementation reduces oxidized LDL cholesterol in patients with diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jan;89(1):71-6.