[Study of aerobic capacity in chronic hemodialized patients: effect of L-carnitine supplementation].
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hemodialyzed patients have a low level of aerobic capacity, caused by the pathologies concomitant to renal insufficiency, according with a low level of physical activity. One of the factors that would contribute to this level of aerobic capacity is the L-carnitine deficit on skeletal muscle. However, the value of the supplementation of L-carnitine to improve the physical fitness has been controversial. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the administration of L-carnitine on VO2 max in hemodialyzed patients.


METHODS
A group of 21 patients (20-50 years old) on a program of chronic hemodialysis was studied. During 12 weeks, 13 of them received L-carnitine, 7 men and 6 women, 38.8 (9.5) years old; BMI 24.2 (2.1) Kg/m2; 8 of them received placebo, 4 men and 4 women, 35.8 (11.4) years old; BMI 24.5 (5.8) Kg/m2.


RESULTS
There was an increase in VO2 peak on L-carnitine group from 16.3 (2.8) mL x Kg(-1) x min(-1) to 19.5 (3.3) mL x Kg(-1) x min(-1), and the same was seen in the placebo group (increase in VO2 peak from 14.8 (3.8) mL x Kg(-1) x min(-1) to 18.9 (4.8) mL x Kg(-1) x min(-1)). The L-carnitine and placebo groups did not show statistical differences at the end of this study (all values above p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of patients, the intravenous supplementation of L-carnitine during 12 weeks did not have an impact on the improvement of the VO2 peak.
Pacheco
Alejandro
A
Sección de Nefrología, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico, España.
Torres
Rubén
R
Sanhueza
María Eugenia
ME
Elgueta
Leticia
L
Segovia
Erico
E
Cano
Marcelo
M
D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D002331:Carnitine