L-Carnitine Decreases LDL in Diabetics

Researchers at the University of Catania, Italy evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine on the reduction of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes (Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(1):71-76). Eighty-one patients with diabetes were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups for three months. The groups received either 2 g of L-carnitine once daily (n=41) or a placebo (n=40). At the end of the study period, the L-carnitine-treated patients showed significant improvements compared to the placebo group. Oxidized LDL levels decreased by 15.1 compared with 3.0 U/L (P<0.001); LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.45 compared with 0.16 mmol/L (P<0.05); triglycerides decreased by 1.02 compared with 0.09 mmol/L (P<0.001); apolipoprotein A1 concentrations decreased by 0.12 compared with 0.03 mg/dL (P<0.05); apolipoprotein B-100 concentrations decreased by 0.13 compared with 0.04 mg/dL (P<0.05); thiobarbituric acid–reactive substance concentrations decreased by 1.92 compared with 0.05 (P<0.001), and conjugated diene concentrations decreased by 0.72 compared with 0.11 in the placebo group (P<0.001). The results indicated that oral administration of L-carnitine reduced oxidized LDL cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.