Serum L-carnitine levels and lipoprotein compositions in chronic viral hepatitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum L-carnitine levels and its effect on lipoproteins in chronic viral hepatitis B or C patients.


METHODS
Blood samples were taken from 41 patients and 30 healthy subjects after 12 h fasting.


RESULTS
Patients' serum L-carnitine levels (11.19 +/- 6.67 mg/L) (p < 0.0001) and hepatic enzyme activities (AST and ALT) (49.02 +/- 42.80 and 58.35 +/- 57.51 U/L) (p < 0.0005) were significantly higher than controls'. Serum total (3.85 +/- 0.82 mmol/L), LDL (2.08 +/- 0.76 mmol/L) and HDL (1.02 +/- 0.29 mmol/L) cholesterol levels were significantly lower in patients (p < 0.01). On the other hand triglyceride levels (1.65 +/- 0.85 mmol/L) were significantly higher in patients (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The higher L-carnitine levels of patients may result from the leakage of hepatic cellular carnitine. If there is a decreased hepatic cellular carnitine levels, this may affect the transport of acetyl moiety for cholesterol synthesis and alter lipoprotein composition. Further investigation is needed for hepatic tissue L-carnitine levels.
Eskandari
G H
GH
Mersin University, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, P. K. 342, 33012, Merkez, Mersin, Turkey. geskandari@hotmail.com
Kandemir O
Polat
G
G
Tamer
L
L
Ersöz
G
G
Atik
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002331:Carnitine