L-Carnitine supplementation reduces oxidized LDL cholesterol in patients with diabetes1,2,3
Patients with type 2 diabetes are under high oxidative stress, and levels of hyperglycemia correlate strongly with levels of LDL oxidation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of L-carnitine on the reduction of oxidized LDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Eighty-one patients with diabetes were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups for 3 months. The 2 groups received either 2 g L-carnitine once daily or placebo.
Results at the end of the study period reported that the L-carnitine-treated patients showed significant improvements compared with the placebo group in the following markers: oxidized LDL levels decreased by 15.1 compared with 3.0; LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.45 compared with 0.16 mmol/L; triglycerides decreased by 1.02 compared with 0.09 mmol/L; apolipoprotein A1 concentrations decreased by 0.12 compared with 0.03 mg/dL; apolipoprotein B-100 concentrations decreased by 0.13 compared with 0.04 mg/dl; thiobarbituric acid–reactive substance concentrations decreased by 1.92 compared with 0.05 and conjugated diene concentrations decreased by 0.72 compared with 0.11 in the placebo group.
The researchers concluded that oral administration of L-carnitine reduces oxidized LDL cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
SOURCE: Am J Clin Nutr 89: 71-76, 2009.