Variation in levels of glycaemia and insulin after infusion of glucose solutions with or without added L-carnitine.
The effect of L-carnitine on glucose and insulin plasma levels was evaluated in 47 healthy volunteers who were administered a 10% glucose solution infusion over 3 h. The experiment was carried out following a cross-over procedure: each patient received two 750 cc 10% glucose solution infusions, a week apart; to one of these infusions 6 g L-carnitine had been added. The glucose infusion significantly increased the plasma glucose concentration of both groups, however, analysis of variance demonstrated that the increase in Group B was inferior (p < 0.01). Insulin plasma levels increased rapidly after the beginning of the glucose infusion in both groups. From T90 to T180, when the maximum hypoglycaemic effect of L-carnitine was observed, this increase was lower in Group B than in Group A. The authors conclude that L-carnitine is capable of reducing the increase in plasma glucose concentration induced by a glucose solution infusion in healthy subjects. This effect does not seem to be related to an insulin-dependent mechanism.
Angelini
A
A
Loreto Crispi Hospital USL No. 37, Surgical Division, Naples, Italy.
Imparato
L
L
Landi
C
C
Porfido
F A
FA
Ciarimboli
M
M
Marro
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D007328:Insulin; D002331:Carnitine