title: Effects of L-carnitine infusions on inflammatory and nutritional markers in haemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carnitine loss through dialysis membranes is shown to be related to the lack of carnitine in long-term haemodialysis patients. It has been previously reported that haemodialysis patients might have benefited from carnitine supplementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 chronic haemodialysis patients maintaining carnitine supplementation and 21 controls (haemodialysis patients not receiving carnitine) were included in the study. L-carnitine was used intravenously three times a week after each haemodialysis session, at a 20 mg/kg dose. C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile, transferrin, total protein and albumin levels were determined at baseline after 3 and 6 months of treatment, and compared with the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRP levels were significantly decreased in carnitine group in contrast to the increase in the control group. Transferrin, total protein and albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) of the patients rose in the carnitine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant benefit of L-carnitine on CRP, transferrin, total protein and albumin levels of the haemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Dialysis Unit, Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Ankara Hospital, Ministry of Health, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duranay
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Fatma Meriç
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Senes
authors.forename: Nurçin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tekeli
authors.forename: Dogan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yücel
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008055:Lipids; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002331:Carnitine