Effects of L-carnitine on carbon tetrachloride-induced changes in serum and liver lipids and acylcarnitines.

Effects of 0.5% L-carnitine-supplemented diet on carbon tetrachloride-induced alterations of hepatic and serum lipids were examined in male rats. Treatment with carbon tetrachloride significantly increased hepatic total lipids, triglycerides, and total carnitine, but these were not significantly altered by 0.5% L-carnitine supplementation. However, in plasma, supplementary carnitine significantly decreased nonesterified fatty acids and increased acylcarnitines. These suggest that carnitine may soften hepatic lipid load by releasing acylcarnitines in blood.