L-Carnitine L-Tartrate Inhibits Gestational Diabetes 27351

L-Carnitine L-Tartrate Inhibits Gestational Diabetes

VIENNA, Austria Intake ofL-carnitine L-tartrate during pregnancy may thwart a sequence of reactionsleading to gestational diabetes, according to a study published in ChemicalMonthly (136, 8:1523-1533, 2005)(www.springerlink.com).

Scientists from the University of Vienna noted deficiency ofcarnitine in pregnant women from the 12th week of gestation through deliveryleads to down-regulation of expression of certain enzymes involved in fatty acidmetabolism; low mRNA levels of these enzymes promotes an increase in free fattyacid levels conducive to insulin resistance. The researchers foundsupplementation with L-carnitine Ltartrate (as L-Carnipure®, from Lonza)increased relative mRNA levels of these enzymes in pregnant women.

In a release on the findings, Lonza (www.lonza.com) notedthere appears to be increasing evidence that L-carnitine may play an importantrole during pregnancy, particularly in women following a meat-reduced orvegetarian diet.