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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. Materials and methods: The effect of L-carnitine on FPG and lipid parameters was investigated in 22 male and 14 female type II diabetic patients, mean age±SD was 51.3±3.7 years. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (i.e.test and control groups). One gram of L-carnitine or placebo was given orally three times a day to the test and control groups respectively for a period of 12 weeks. Results: Fasting plasma glucose in the test group decreased significantly from 143±35 mg/dl to130±33 mg/dl (p=0.03), and a significant increase of triglycerides (TG) from 196±61 mg/dl to 233±116 mg/dL (p=0.05), of APO A1 from 94±20 mg/dL to103±23 mg/dl (p=0.02), of APO B100 from 98±18 mg/dL to108±22 mg/dl (p=0.02) after 12 weeks of treatment was observed. There were no significant changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1C or in total cholesterol (TC) between the two groups. Conclusion: L-carnitine significantly lowers fasting plasma glucose but increases fasting triglycerides in type II diabetic patients.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on carbohydrate (CHO) and fat metabolism after resistance exercise. Materials and Methods: In this investigation, using a double blind, randomized, crossover, repeated measure design (1 wk washout), 10 healthy resistance-trained men (Mean±SD: age, 24.03±2.00 yr mass, 72.26±5.31 kg height, 173.90±5.02 cm) consumed 2 g placebo or LC supplement daily for one week and then performed 6 exercises of a resistance exercise protocol. Each workout was performed for 3 sets of 12 repetitions with 55% 1RM and rest periods were kept to 60 s between all sets and workout. Expired gases were measured for calculating CHO and fat oxidation. Venous blood samples were obtained before and after supplementation, immediately after resistance exercise and after the 1^st and 24^th hour after resistance exercise. Samples were analyzed for markers of glucose, NEFA, glycerol and insulin. Also L-carnitine plasma concentrations were measured, before and after supplementation. Results: The results of this study suggest that plasma carnitine concentrations increased 14% (p≤0.05) with L-carnitine supplementation, with no change in the placebo trial. Compared to the placebo trial, CHO oxidation was reduced significantly (p≤0.05) with L-carnitine supplementation immediately after resistance exercise. However there were no statistically significant differences between the L-carnitine and the placebo conditions for any of the other variables examined (p>0.05). Conclusions: Increased plasma insulin concentrations with L-carnitine and placebo after resistance exercise attenuated result in attenuate fat oxidation in this study.

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Introduction: Obesity, a serious risk factor for chronic diseases, especially among women, is an important worldwide public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation with or without moderate aerobic training on serum lipid profiles and body fat percentage in obese women. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 44 obese women were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=11 each) as follows: 1: L-carnitine supplementation (2 g/day), 2: aerobic training+placebo group, 3: L-carnitine supplementation + aerobic training and 4: placebo. All interventions had an 8 week period and subjects of aerobic training groups underwent 8-week aerobic training protocol (3 sessions a week [24 sessions]). Body mass index, body fat percentage, daily dietary intake and serum fasting free L-carnitine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels of each subjects were measured before and after interventions. Analysis of covariance was used for comparing of variables means between groups. Results: Body fat percentage decreased significantly in the aerobic training+placebo and in L-carnitine supplementation+aerobic training groups. In the L-carnitine supplementation group, aerobic training+pl­acebo and the L-carnitine supplementation+aerobic training groups, significant reductions were observed in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. LDL-C levels decreased significantly in the L-carnitine+aerobic training group. Conclusion: Results indicated beneficial effects of L-carnitine supplementation alone or combined with aerobic training on serum lipid profiles and effects of aerobic training in lowering of body fat percentage in obese women. L-carnitine supplementation and aerobic training may be effective in delaying onset of chronic diseases in obese subjects.

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Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular complications are considered as the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. The role of increased serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, particularly C Reactive Protein (CRP), in the prediction and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications of type 1 diabetes has been established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 10 weeks of L-carnitine supplementation and aerobic exercise training on serum levels of CRP in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Male wistar rats (n=36), weighing 230±10 (grams) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 each), including the healthy group, and the remaining (after the induction of diabetes mellitus by injection of streptozotocin), into the diabetic pre-test, diabetic control, diabetic aerobic training, diabetic oral L-carnitine treatment, and the diabetic aerobic training plus oral L-carnitine treatment groups. At the end of the interventions, blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of CRP. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS version 20; P values<0.05 were considered significant. Results: Althought L-carnitine supplem­entation in diabetic oral L-carnitine treatment group did not significantly reduce serum levels of CRP, compared with the diabetic control group (p=0.078), it however reduced the rate of its progressive increase. Also significant reductions in CRP levels in both the aerobic training (p=0) and the aerobic training plus L-carnitine supplementation groups (p=0) were observed. However, the percentage changes of CRP level in the latter group was higher. Conclusion: Results of the current study show that, aerobic training can reduce serum CRP levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, and the simultaneous use of L-carnitine supplementation, can lead to more beneficial effects.

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Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of compound exercises with simultaneous omega-3 and l-carnitine supplementation on serum levels of Visfatin in type II Diabetic Women. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study included a pre-test and post-test with 5 experimental groups and one control group. Participants of the study were type II diabetic women, average age 52.7±1.6 years and body mass index 29.82±4.35 kg/m², who were randomly divided into 6 groups of 10 individuals each: 1. Exercise+placebo 2. Exerci­se+omega-3, 3. Exercise+L carnitine, 4. Exercise+ omega 3+ L- carnitine, 5. L-carnitine+omega-3 and 6. The control group. Omega-3  supplementation  groups daily consumed 2000 mg of omega-3 and L-carnitine group 500 mg L-carnitine either. Training included 3 sessions per week, each session consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with 60-70% of maximum heart rate and 30-40 minute of circular resistance training with 60% of repetition maximum (1RM). Results: T-test showed that visfatin levels in groups 3, 4 and 5 (p≤0.01), fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in groups 2 and 1, and 4 and 5 (p≤0.001) and insulin in group 5 was significantly reduced (p≤0.02). Comparison showed no significant differences between the groups p>0.05. Conclusion: The results of this study, show that compound exercises, along with and simultaneous supplementation of Omega-3 and with l-carnitine, are appropriate stimuli to curtail visfatin levels and reduce risk factors in type 2 diabetic women.