Relationship between carnitine, fatty acids and insulin resistance.
Increased plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels are a feature of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on plasma lipids and the expression of enzymes in peripheral mononucleated cells (PMNC) involved in the regulation of fatty acid and glucose oxidation. L-Carnitine supplementation of 2 g/day resulted in a significant decrease in plasma FFA and in a less pronounced diminution of the plasma triacylglycerols. In addition, a concomitant increase in the relative mRNA abundances of carnitine acyltransferases (5- to 10-fold) and of the carnitine carrier OCTN2 (12-fold) in PMNC of pregnant women was found. The results of the present study provide evidence that L-carnitine supplementation in pregnancy (2 g/day) avoids a striking increase in plasma FFA, which are thought to be the main cause of insulin resistance and consequently gestational diabetes mellitus.
Lohninger
Alfred
A
Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 10, Vienna, Austria. alfred.lohninger@meduniwien.ac.at
Radler
U
U
Jinniate
S
S
Lohninger
S
S
Karlic
H
H
Lechner
S
S
Mascher
D
D
Tammaa
A
A
Salzer
H
H
D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D000074058:Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D027701:Organic Cation Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C492020:SLC22A5 protein, human; D000074058:Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase; D002331:Carnitine