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.
Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 10, Vienna, Austria. alfred.lohninger@meduniwien.ac.at
Alfred
A
Lohninger
U
U
Radler
S
S
Jinniate
S
S
Lohninger
H
H
Karlic
S
S
Lechner
D
D
Mascher
A
A
Tammaa
H
H
Salzer
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