Effect of oral L-carnitine administration on insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to evaluate the effect of oral L-carnitine administration on insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 12 subjects with type 2 diabetes. Six subjects received L-carnitine 1 g orally 3 times a day before meals for a period of 4 weeks. Six other individuals took a placebo for the same period of time, as the control group. Before and after the intervention, insulin sensitivity and the lipid profile were estimated. To assess insulin sensitivity, the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique was performed. Wilcoxon's signed rank and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for the statistical analyses.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in basal clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. Insulin sensitivity and the basal lipid profile were similar. There were no significant changes in either group after the intervention in insulin sensitivity (3.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 4.5 +/- 1.7 mg/kg/min, p = 0.115, and 3.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min, p = 0.917, for the placebo and L-carnitine groups, respectively) and in lipid profile.


CONCLUSIONS
L-Carnitine orally administered for a period of 4 weeks did not modify insulin sensitivity or the lipid profile.
González-Ortiz
Manuel
M
Physiology Department, Health Science University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Hernández-González
Sandra O
SO
Hernández-Salazar
Eduardo
E
Martínez-Abundis
Esperanza
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002331:Carnitine