Effect of L-carnitine on the serum lipoproteins and HDL-C subclasses in hemodialysis patients.

AIMS: Following carnitine administration a decrease in plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) and increase in total high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been reported. Our hypothesis was that it also improves the HDL2/HDL3 ratio, symptomatic intradialytic hypotension, and anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
METHODS: Forty HD patients with a mean (+/- SD) age of 53 +/- 13 years were treated with 500 mg/day carnitine taken orally for 2 months. Patients were used as their own controls (before treatment). Lipid and lipoproteins were determined by Alcyon Abbott autoanalyzer. HDL subclasses were measured by magnesium precipitation after fractionation with dextran sulfate. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum albumin were measured by standard methods. The results were analyzed by SPSS 11.05.
RESULTS: We found a significant decrease in serum TG (2.22 +/- 0.99 vs. 1.93 +/- 1.07 mmol/l, p < 0.01) and VLDL-C (0.93 +/- 0.36 vs. 0.81 +/- 0.34 mmol/l, p = 0.01) and a marked increase in HDL-C (0.9 +/- 0.16 vs. 1.06 +/- 0.24 mmol/l, p < 0.05), HDL2-C (0.17 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.14 mmol/l, p < 0.05) and albumin (37 +/- 4 vs. 42 +/- 5 g/l, p = 0.01) levels. The serum levels of total cholesterol (4.61 +/- 0.89 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.95 mmol/l, p = 0.1), LDL-C (2.78 +/- 0.85 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.89 mmol/l, p > 0.05), HDL3-C (0.73 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.79 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, p > 0.05), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and intradialytic blood pressure did not change after the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Treatment with 500 mg/day carnitine taken orally for 2 months reduces serum levels of TG and VLDL-C, and increases HDL-C, HDL2-C and albumin in HD patients. Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.