Determination of free L-carnitine levels in type II diabetic women with and without complications.
BACKGROUND
Studies on the determination of carnitine levels and nutritional status in patients of type II diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
We designed this study to determine changes of serum-free L-carnitine in type II diabetic women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study (case-control study).


METHODS
Clinical of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sina Hospital, Pharmacological Research Center, Tabriz Medical university, Iran.


METHODS
Taking into account the importance of the control of diabetes, in the present case-control study, the levels of serum-free L-carnitine, blood glucose and lipids, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and nutritional status assessed in the case and control groups which were selected by the simple sampling method. The control group (n=18) included patients with no complications and the case group (n=33) was grouped into three subgroups including patients with retinopathy, hyperlipidemia and neuropathy.


RESULTS
Study results indicated that the mean serum-free L-carnitine concentration in the case group was significantly lower than its mean concentration level in the control group, 39.63+/-8.99 vs 53.42+/-0.93 micromol/l, respectively (P<0.001). Serum-free L-carnitine in retinopathy, hyperlipidemia and neuropathy case subgroups were 39.03+/-9.89, 39.63+/-8.99 and 40.44+/-12.50 micromol/l, respectively (P>0.05). No significant difference was found between the serum-free carnitine levels of the case subgroups. The mean blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the mean serum-free L-carnitine levels in diabetic patients with complications was almost 25% lower than in diabetic patients with no complications. On the basis of the study results, carnitine supplementation in diabetic patients, especially in patients with diabetes complications, might be useful.
Poorabbas
A
A
Ilam Medical University, Ilam, Iran. poorabbasa@yahoo.com
Fallah
F
F
Bagdadchi
J
J
Mahdavi
R
R
Aliasgarzadeh
A
A
Asadi
Y
Y
Koushavar
H
H
Vahed Jabbari
M
M
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002331:Carnitine