Effect of l-carnitine on serum lipid profile in iraqi diabetics

الملخص EN

Objective : To assess the effect of L-carnitine administration, as an additional useful supplement, on serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetics.

Patients and Methods : Fifty-four patients (32 males, 22 females) aged 25-70 years, with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were attending Al-Waffa Diabetic Clinic, Mosul, Iraq ; during the period from 1st October 2005 to 31st March 2006, were included in this study.

L-carnitine was given to each of these diabetics for 45 days in a dose of 550 mg, in form of tablets in two doses orally, in addition to their other hypoglycaemic drugs.

Blood samples were taken from each patient for the measurement of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and calculation of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), Non-HDL-C and TC : HDL-C (atherogenic index, AI).

Four measurements were taken : before the first administration of L-carnitine, then after 15, 30 and 45 days from the commencement of the study.

Results : Mean TC showed a significant decrease (p < 0.001) between the four intervals with a mean of 8.55 mmol / L before starting L-carnitine administration, and 6.47, 5.99 and 5.5 mmol / L after 15, 30 and 45 days respectively from the commencement of the study.

There is also a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in TG between these four intervals with means of 2.17 mmol / L before administrating L-carnitine, and 1.81, 1.55 and 1.41 mmol / L after 15, 30 and 45 days from the commencement of the study respectively.

In addition, a significant increase (p < 0.001) in HDL-C was found between these four intervals with means of 1.25 mmol / L before administrating L-carnitine, and 1.44, 1.71 and 1.56 mmol / L after 15, 30 and 45 days from starting carnitine administration respectively.

The AI was also significantly decreased (p < 0.001) with a mean of 7.72 before the administration of carnitine and 3.6 after finishing the period of 45 days of carnitine administration.

The LDL-C was significantly decrease (p < 0.001) with a mean of 6.88 mmol / L before administering L-carnitine, and 4.21, 3.73 and 3.45 mmol / L after 15, 30, and 45 days from the commencement of the study respectively.

The Non-HDL-C was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) with a mean of 7.17 mmol / L before starting carnitine administration and 3.83 mmol / L after 45 day from starting carnitine administration.

Conclusion : L-carnitine can be useful as an additional dietary supplement and pharmaceutical agent that has an improving effect on serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetics.