High L-carnitine concentrations do not prevent late diabetic complications in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.
Increased intake of L-carnitine, a cofactor in cellular energy metabolism, is recommended for diabetic patients with late complications. However, its clinical benefits remain controversial. We hypothesized that patients with low L-carnitine levels would have an increased rate of diabetic complications. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the relationship of L-carnitine concentrations in blood with the prevalence and severity of late diabetic complications in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients. Human blood samples were collected from 93 and 87 patients diagnosed as having type 1 or type 2 diabetes, respectively, and 122 nondiabetic individuals. The determination of free L-carnitine concentrations in whole blood lysates was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In diabetic patients, diabetic complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, or hypertension were recorded. The average L-carnitine concentration in the blood of control subjects was 33 ± 8 nmol/mL, which was not significantly different from subgroups of patients with type 1 (32 ± 10 nmol/mL) or type 2 diabetes (36 ± 11 nmol/mL). Patients with low (<20 nmol/mL) l-carnitine levels did not have increased occurrences of late diabetic complications. In addition, patient subgroups with higher L-carnitine concentrations did not have decreased prevalence of late diabetic complications. Our results provide evidence that higher L-carnitine concentrations do not prevent late diabetic complications in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles Str 21, Riga, Latvia. ledgars@biomed.lu.lv
Edgars
E
Liepinsh
Elina
E
Skapare
Edijs
E
Vavers
Ilze
I
Konrade
Ieva
I
Strele
Solveiga
S
Grinberga
Osvalds
O
Pugovics
Maija
M
Dambrova
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D002331:Carnitine