title: Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid parameters in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: It has been reported that cumulative carnitine losses through dialysis membranes may worsen hyperlipidemia during long-term hemodialysis. However, carnitine supplementation has not shown a consistent beneficial response. We undertook the present study to determine if there is any hypolipidemic effect of L-carnitine on Greek dialysis patients in concert with the dialysate buffer composition (acetate or bicarbonate). A total of 28 patients (16 male, 12 female), mean age 43 years (range 21-61), with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis for a mean period of 25 months (range 7-84) were studied. The dialysis schedule was 4 h, 3 times/week using cuprophane hollow-fiber dialyzers and acetate (n = 14) or bicarbonate (n = 14) dialysate. In all patients L-carnitine (5 mg/kg body weight) was infused intravenously 3 times/week at the end of each hemodialysis session. Blood samples for carnitine and lipid determinations were obtained before treatment, and 3 and 6 months following treatment. Even though L-carnitine did not modify most of the serum lipid levels, a significant decrease in serum triglycerides was evident in the whole group of patients (from 225 +/- 76 to 201 +/- 75 mg/dl, p = 0.03). Furthermore, L-carnitine could decrease serum triglycerides only in hypertriglyceridemic patients (from 260 +/- 64 to 226 +/- 82 mg/dl, p < 0.05). L-Carnitine resulted in a reduction of serum triglycerides in both patients on bicarbonate and on acetate dialysis, while there were no significant differences in the changes of lipid parameters after L-carnitine between the two groups of hemodialysis patients. We conclude that relatively low doses of L-carnitine supplementation could contribute to the management of some hypertriglyceridemic hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elisaf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bairaktari
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katopodis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sferopoulos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzallas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tsolas
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Siamopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002021:Buffers; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D002021:Buffers; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D002331:Carnitine