|
|
|
Animal Studies ADHD: Acetyl- l-Carnitine Reduced Impulsive Behavior in Adolescent Rats: ALC has no stimulant effect, but the authors conclude it may help ADHD children. Adriani W, et al, Rome, Italy. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 May 8 Aging: Supplementation of Carnitine Helped Aged Rats But Not Young Ones. Kumaran S, et al, India. Chem Biol Interact. 2004 Jun 30;148(1-2):11-8 Aging: Acetyl-L-Carnitine Helped Old Rats: Supplementation restored decreased tissue carnitine levels and impaired lipid metabolism in aged rats. Tanaka Y, Sasaki R, et al., Tokyo, Japan. J Lipid Res. 2004 Apr;45(4):729-35. Aging: Carnitine Helps Mitochondrial Enzymes in Heart and Muscle: The activities of mitochondrial citric acid cycle enzymes, such as isocitrate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase, were found to be decreased in aged rats as well as that of electron-transferring enzymes such as NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase. After supplementation of carnitine to aged rats, the activities of these enzymes reverted nearer to that of young control rats. L-carnitine improves the activities of mitochondrial enzymes, increases the electron flow through the electron transport chain, and improves reducing equivalence, thereby improves energy status in aged rats. Kumaran S, et al. University of Madras, India. Exp Aging Res. 2005 Jan-Mar;31(1):55-67. ALS Helped Considerably in Mice: A mutation of the gene encoding Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) has been reported in 20% of familial cases of ALS (FALS). Transgenic mice that overexpress a mutated human SOD1 exhibit a phenotype and pathology similar to those observed in patients with FALS. Mitochondrial abnormality has been reported in patients with ALS and in animal models of FALS. L-carnitine, an essential cofactor for the beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, effectively inhibits various types of mitochondrial injury and apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Oral l-carnitine prior to disease onset significantly delayed the onset of signs of disease (P = 0.0008), delayed deterioration of motor activity, and extended life span (P = 0.0001) in transgenic mice carrying a human SOD1 gene with a G93A mutation (Tg). Subcutaneous injection of l-carnitine increased the life span of Tg mice (46% increase in male, 60% increase in female) even when given after the appearance of signs of disease. l-Carnitine suppresses the onset of neuromuscular degeneration and increases the life span of mice with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Kira Y, et al. Osaka City University Medical School, Japan. Brain Res 2006 Jan 11. Brain: L-Carnitine Inhibits Hypoglycemia-Induced Brain Damage in the Rat: Was given beforehand. Hino, et al. Osaka City University, Japan. Brain: Carnitine May Help Age-Related Brain Changes: A declined mitochondrial energy production occurs during aging. The activities of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes such as isocitrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate and malate dehydrogenases and electron transport complexes I-IV were measured in mitochondria isolated from brain regions like cortex, striatum and hippocampus of young and aged rats before and after L-Carnitine supplementation. All the three brain regions of aged rats showed decreased activities of isocitrate, alpha-ketoglutarate and succinate dehydrogenases, complexes I and IV when compared to control young rats. L-Carnitine supplementation to aged rats reversed the activities of these enzymes to near normal whereas treatment to young rats did not show any significant alterations. Haripriya D, et al., University of Madras, India. Biogerontology. 2004;5(5):355-64 Brain Protected from Low Oxygen by Carnitine in Infant Rats: Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia remains a significant cause of neonatal mortality and disability. Cerebral ischemia disrupts normal respiratory activity in mitochondria. Carnitine protected newborn rat brains from ischemia if given ahead of time. Carnitine is easy to administer, has low toxicity, and is routinely used in neonates as well as children with epilepsy, cardiomyopathy, and inborn errors of metabolism. It may be a treatment for the asphyxiated newborn or as prophylaxis for the at-risk fetus or newborn. L-carnitine reduces brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rats. Wainwright MS, Mannix MK, Brown J, Stumpf DA. Northwestern University, Chicago. Pediatr Res. 2003 Nov;54(5):688-95. Growth: Carnitine Helped Piglets: J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2005 Aug;89(7-8):277-83 Growth: Carnitine to Sow Increased Lactation and Piglet Growth: Br J Nutr. 2005 May;93(5):717- Heart: L-Carnitine vs. Derivatives in Rat Heart: Significant postischemic ventricular recovery was noticed in the hearts perfused with 0.5 mM of propionyl-L-carnitine, but not with the same concentration of L-carnitine or L-acetyl carnitine. The incidence of reperfusion Ventricular Fibrillation was reduced from its control value of 90 to 10% (p < 0.05) in hearts perfused with 5 mM of propionyl-L-carnitine only. Other doses of various carnitines failed to reduce the incidence of VF. U Conn. Med. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Dec;254(1-2):227-34
Hearing Loss Reduced: A study of chinchillas found less cochlear damage for those on acetyl-L-carnitine or NAC. Acta Otolaryngol. 2005 Mar;125(3):235-43 Infant Growth: L-Carnitine During Pregnancy and Lactation Improved Piglet Growth: Ramanau A, et al. Germany. J Nutr. 2004 Jan;134(1):86-92 Liver: Carnitine Reduces Hepatitis and Liver Cancer in Rat Study: Hepatocellular carcinoma is usually preceded by chronic inflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis via the production of free radicals. L-carnitine effectively protects mitochondrial function in vivo. Long-term administration of L-carnitine reduced hepatitis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats. The authors conclude that the clinical use of carnitine has excellent therapeutic potential in individuals with chronic hepatitis. L-carnitine inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis via protection of mitochondria. Chang B, et al., Osaka City University, Japan . Int J Cancer. 2004 Oct 21 Liver Damage from Alcohol Reduced in Rats: Excessive alcohol intake induces hepatic fatty infiltration, which may sensitize the liver to further damage. L-carnitine was given to rats chronically treated with ethanol for 10 weeks. It helped alleviate alcohol-induced liver damage. Bykov I, Jarvelainen H, Lindros K. Helsinki, Finland. Alcohol Alcohol. 2003 Sep-Oct;38(5):400-6 Liver: Carnitine May Protect the Liver: Plasma carnitine levels were lower in children with chronic hepatitis B compared with healthy ones and carnitine was inversely correlated with liver portal inflammation and fibrosis scores. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Feb;38(2):130-3. L-carnitine has a protective effect in rats in the early stage of experimental acute liver damage induced by CCl4. As the toxic effect or damage continues, its effect lessens. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Mar;19(3):333-8. Liver: L-Carnitine Protected Chronic Hepatitis Rats from Liver Cancer: Hepatocellular carcinoma is usually preceded by chronic inflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis via the production of free radicals. L-carnitine protects mitochondrial function. In a rat study, l-carnitine protected against hepatocellular carcinoma. The authors conclude that the clinical use of carnitine has excellent therapeutic potential in individuals with chronic hepatitis. L-carnitine inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis via protection of mitochondria. Chang B, Nishikawa M, et al. Osaka City University, Japan. Int J Cancer. 2004 Oct 21; Similar. Int J Cancer. 2005 Feb 20;113(5):719-29 Obesity: No Weight Loss in Ovarectomized Rats: In a study simulating post-menopausal humans, rats with an exercise program and free access to food who received L-carnitine did not lose any weight compared to controls. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005 Mar;75(2):156-60. Ed: Some sellers of carnitine irresponsible sell it as a "fat-burner." While it does help metabolized fatty acids, I have seen no studies suggesting it might help with weight loss. Reproduction: Carnitine Might Help Reproduction; Aging Neutrophils: Giving sows l-carnitine increases their reproduction performance. However, this study found that l-carnitine supplementation did not improve the reproductive performance of rats. Reproductive performance of rats supplemented with L-carnitine. Brandsch C, Eder K. Martin-Luther University, Germany. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2003 Aug;87(7-8):301-8; L-carnitine is capable of restoring the age-related changes of neutrophil functions in rats. Mech Ageing Dev. 2003 Mar;124(3):341-7 Stomach Protected from Alcohol Damage by Carnitines in Rats: Propionyl L-carnitine and acetyl L-carnitine protect gastric mucosa from alcohol-induced acute mucosal injury. Protective role of carnitine esters against alcohol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Arafa HM, Sayed-Ahmed MM. Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Pharmacol Res. 2003 Sep;48(3):285-90 Tartrate Salt Best: L-carnitine salts had a similar bioavailability in pigs to that of free L-carnitine while L-carnitine esters had a lower one. L-carnitine L-tartrate was absorbed faster than the other L-carnitine compounds. Free and total carnitine concentrations in pig plasma after oral ingestion of various L-carnitine compounds. Eder K, et al. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005 Jan;75(1):3-9. Testes: Helped Protect From Damage: Pretreatment of mice with L-carnitine or CoQ10 1 hour before exposure to magnetic field caused a significant recovery of mice testes damage induced by high magnetic field (20 mT). Arch Med Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;33(6):515-9. The protective role of L-carnitine against neurotoxicity evoked by methamphetamine could be related to mitochondrial dysfunction in mice study. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Jun;965:225-32. Vitamin C Needed for Body to Make Carnitine: The biosynthesis of carnitine requires vitamin C as a cofactor for two separate hydroxylation steps. The majority of body carnitine (approximately 98%) is located in muscle and less than 0.5% is present in plasma. Johnston CS, et al, Arizona State University. J Nutr Biochem. 1999 Dec;10(12):696-9 Wound Healing: Skin Flap Survival Helped by Carnitine in Rat Study: Skin flap survival area was 57% in the control group, 71% in the dexamethasone group, 73% in the carnitine group, 85% in the dexamethasone plus carnitine group. Dual Synergistic Effect: The Effect of Dexamethasone Plus Carnitine on Skin Flap Survival. Kargi E, Deren O, et al. Ankara, Turkey. Ann Plast Surg. 2004 Nov;53(5):488-491 Wound Healing: Carnitine plus Vitamin C Aid Burn Healing: The areas of flap necrosis in rats were measured. The median surviving areas and areas of flap necrosis were: controls, 16.0 cm(2) and 14.0 cm(2); vitamin C 0.5 mg/kg, 18.25 cm(2) and 11.75 cm(2); carnitine 100 mg/kg, 20.0 cm(2) and 10 cm(2); and both, 23.75 cm(2) and 6.25 cm(2). Arslan E, et al. Mersin University, Turkey. Med Sci Monit. 2005 May 25;11(6):BR176-180 Stimulates Erythropoiesis in Bone Marrow: l-carnitine stimulates erythropoiesis in mouse bone marrow, partially accounting for its mitigating effect on renal anemia. Kitamura, et al. Japan. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2005 May;20(5):981-4. Exercise Trained (But Not Untrained) Helped by Carnitine with Vitamins E, C, and Melatonin Antioxidants: Increase carnitine stores, triglyceride utilization, and endurance in exercising rats. Kim E, et al. Chonbuk National University, Korea. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2004 Oct;50(5):335-43.
Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.
|