L-carnitine supplementation does not promote weight loss in ovariectomized rats despite endurance exercise.
In this five-week study, we tested the hypotheses that free access to a maintenance diet supplemented with L-carnitine (L-C) would reduce body fat in adult, sedentary, ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and that there would be an additive effect of L-C on weight reduction in swim-trained animals. As expected, serum carnitine was higher in rats fed the L-C diet, and the OVX-induced weight gain and abdominal fat were counteracted by swimming. L-C supplementation did not reduce the weight gain or abdominal fat in these adult female rats, Moreover, though not reaching statistical significance, rats that were fed L-C demonstrated a tendency for greater weight gain than their basal-fed counterparts despite no difference in energy intake. If the results of this study on ovariectomized rats can be translated to postmenopausal women, moderate intensity exercise may be recommended, but L-C supplementation, with no energy restriction, may be contraindicated as a weight loss method in this cohort.
Melton
S A
SA
Department of Kinesiology, School of Health Sciences, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA. smelton@wcupa.edu
Keenan
M J
MJ
Stanciu
C E
CE
Hegsted
M
M
Zablah-Pimentel
E M
EM
O'Neil
C E
CE
Gaynor
P
P
Schaffhauser
A
A
Owen
K
K
Prisby
R D
RD
LaMotte
L L
LL
Fernandez
J M
JM
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013550:Swimming; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D002331:Carnitine