Attenuation of ethanol metabolism by supplementary carnitine in rats.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of supplementary D,L-carnitine on blood-ethanol levels and ascertain if the effect was a result of altered absorption or metabolism of ethanol. Mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed Purina Rat Chow as such or supplemented with various levels of D,L-carnitine. First it was established that supplementing carnitine at 1% (w/w) level produced steady state concentrations of carnitine in blood after 3 days of feeding. When a single dose of ethanol was given orally after 5 days of carnitine supplementation, the blood levels of ethanol remained significantly elevated for 2-8 hours in the carnitine supplemented animals. Time course of blood-ethanol concentrations revealed that carnitine did not affect the rates of ethanol absorption and therefore, the effect must be due to the attenuation of ethanol clearance from the blood.
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000431:Ethanol; D002331:Carnitine