title: The effect of two-week L-carnitine supplementation on exercise -induced oxidative stress and muscle damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to assess the effect of Two-week L-carnitine supplementation on known markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage following acute bouts of exercise in active healthy young men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one active healthy men volunteered for this study. Participants were randomized in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion into two groups: L-carnitine (C group; n=10) and placebo group (P group; n=11). They arrived at the laboratory after overnight fasting. A baseline blood sample was taken. Afterwards, subjects consumed either L-carnitine (2 capsules containing totally 2000 mg L-carnitine) or placebo (2 capsules containing totally 2000 mg lactose) daily for 14 days. On the day of the test, participants attended the athletics arena after overnight fasting. Then, participants were asked to run 14 km on the track at their highest ability. Blood samples were taken immediately, 2, and 24 hours after exercise. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as markers of muscle damage were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TAC increased significantly 14 days after supplementation and 24h after exercise in C group compared with P group (P<0.05). Serum MDA-TBARS, CK, and LDH were significantly lower 24h after exercise in C group compared with P group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that two-week daily oral supplementation of L-carnitine has alleviating effects on lipid peroxidation and muscle damage markers following an acute bout of exercise in active healthy young men.
authors.affiliation: Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parandak
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
authors.forename: Faegheh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khoshkhahesh
authors.affiliation: Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nakhostin-Roohi
keywords: Antioxidants; Creatine Kinase; Lipid Peroxidation; Oxidative Stress; Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substance
references.citation: J Gastroenterol. 2001 Apr;36(4):231-6
references.pmid: 11324725
references.citation: Rep Civ Aeromed Res Inst US. 1963 Apr;:1-8
references.pmid: 14131272
references.citation: J Physiol. 2011 Feb 15;589(Pt 4):963-73
references.pmid: 21224234
references.citation: Clin Nutr. 2006 Jun;25(3):444-53
references.pmid: 16426710
references.citation: Sports Med. 1991 Sep;12(3):184-207
references.pmid: 1784873
references.citation: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2011 Oct;301(4):R843-63
references.pmid: 21775650
references.citation: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2012 Apr;52(2):170-4
references.pmid: 22525653
references.citation: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Jun;48(2):217-24
references.pmid: 18427418
references.citation: Physiol Rev. 1983 Oct;63(4):1420-80
references.pmid: 6361812
references.citation: Tohoku J Exp Med. 2011;224(3):209-13
references.pmid: 21701126
references.citation: World Allergy Organ J. 2012 Jan;5(1):9-19
references.pmid: 23268465
references.citation: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006 Dec;14(12):2224-35
references.pmid: 17189550
references.citation: Cell Biochem Funct. 2009 Jun;27(4):216-22
references.pmid: 19382129
references.citation: J Pharm Pharmacol. 2011 Oct;63(10):1290-4
references.pmid: 21899544
references.citation: Anal Biochem. 1979 Jun;95(2):351-8
references.pmid: 36810
references.citation: PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e51586
references.pmid: 23227269
references.citation: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004 Mar;19(3):333-8
references.pmid: 14748882
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Aug;72(2 Suppl):618S-23S
references.pmid: 10919968