title: Effects of L-carnitine supplement on serum inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein, lipoprotein (a), and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients with Lp (a) hyperlipoproteinemia.
abstract: Inflammation, oxidative stress, and high concentration of serum lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] are common complications in hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplement on serum inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), Lp (a), and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients with Lp (a) hyperlipoproteinemia [hyper Lp (a)]. This was an unblinded, randomized clinical trial. Thirty-six hyper Lp (a) hemodialysis patients (23 men and 13 women) were randomly assigned to either a carnitine or control group. Patients in the carnitine group received 1000 mg/d oral L-carnitine for 12 weeks, whereas patients in the control group did not receive any L-carnitine supplement. At baseline and the end of week 12, 5 mL of blood were collected after a 12- to 14-hours fast and serum free carnitine, CRP, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, Lp (a), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein were measured. Serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly by 86% in the carnitine group at the end of week 12 compared with baseline (P<0.001), while serum CRP and IL-6 showed a significant decrease of 29% (P<0.05) and 61% (P<0.001), respectively. No significant changes were observed in serum free carnitine, CRP, and IL-6 in the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean changes of serum interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, Lp (a), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein concentrations. L-carnitine supplement reduces inflammation in hemodialysis patients, but has no effect on hyper Lp (a) and oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabibi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedayati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002331:Carnitine