title: Effects of L-Carnitine supplement on plasma coagulation and anticoagulation factors in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypercoagulability is an important risk factor for thrombosis and its complications in hemodialysis patients. This study was designed to investigate the effects of l-carnitine supplement on plasma coagulation and anticoagulation factors in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to either a carnitine or a placebo group. Patients in the carnitine group received 1000 mg/day oral l-carnitine for 12 weeks, whereas patients in the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and the end of week 12, 5 mL blood was collected after a 12- to 14-hour fast and plasma fibrinogen concentration, activity of plasma protein C, coagulation factors V, VII, IX, and serum concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), free carnitine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the carnitine group, mean serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly to 150% of baseline (p < 0.001), whereas plasma fibrinogen and serum CRP had 98 mg/dL (p < 0.01) and 41% (p < 0.01) significant decreases, respectively, at the end of week 12 compared with baseline. The reductions were significant compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to mean changes of the activity of plasma protein C, coagulation factors V, VII, IX, and serum PAI-1 to tPA ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  l-Carnitine supplement reduces serum CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, and plasma fibrinogen, an inflammation-related coagulation factor, in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, l-carnitine may play an effective role in preventing cardiovascular diseases in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hakeshzadeh
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabibi
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadinejad
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malakoutian
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedayati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002331:Carnitine