title: The effect of L-carnitine treatment on levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione in patients with age related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties of the L-carnitine (LC) in the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 60 patients diagnosed with early AMD. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I was the study group that received LC supplementation for 3 months. Group II was the control group and did not consent to LC supplementation over the 3 months. At the end of the 3-month period, markers of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group, the MDA level was significantly reduced, while the GSH level was significantly increased at the end of the 3-month period (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that LC may protect against oxidative damage by decreasing the MDA level, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and increasing GSH.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophtalmology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: H Hakan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophtalmology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mumcu
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophtalmology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophtalmology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cinici
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiziltunc
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophtalmology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baykal
keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; Glutathione; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative stress