title: Modulation of tissue fatty acids by L-carnitine attenuates metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese rats.
abstract: Obesity and dyslipidaemia are metabolic defects resulting from impaired lipid metabolism. These impairments are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Correcting the defects in lipid metabolism may attenuate obesity and dyslipidaemia, and reduce cardiovascular risk and liver damage. L-Carnitine supplementation was used in this study to enhance fatty acid oxidation so as to ameliorate diet-induced disturbances in lipid metabolism. Male Wistar rats (8-9 weeks old) were fed with either corn starch or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diets for 16 weeks. Separate groups were supplemented with L-carnitine (1.2% in food) on either diet for the last 8 weeks of the protocol. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats showed central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinaemia, cardiovascular remodelling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. L-Carnitine supplementation attenuated these high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced changes, together with modifications in lipid metabolism including the inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity, reduced storage of short-chain monounsaturated fatty acids in the tissues with decreased linoleic acid content and trans fatty acids stored in retroperitoneal fat. Thus, L-carnitine supplementation attenuated the signs of metabolic syndrome through inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity, preferential β-oxidation of some fatty acids and increased storage of saturated fatty acids and relatively inert oleic acid in the tissues.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia. Lindsay.Brown@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Panchal
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poudyal
authors.forename: Leigh C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waanders
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D002331:Carnitine