L-Carnitine Increases High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background/ Objective: The popular use of L-carnitine (LC) as a food supplement for patients with diverse disorders is based on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic properties of the amino acid. Since no clinical studies have focused on the effects of LC supplementation in healthy subjects, our objective was to determine whether daily administration of LC to adults presenting no morbidities would induce changes in their glycemic, lipid or inflammatory status. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers aged between 19 and 52 years were divided randomly into two equal groups, one of which received 1000 mg of LC per day over a 12-week period while the other received a corresponding dose of identical matching placebo. Serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively), triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and C-reactive protein were assessed before and after intervention. Results: Total cholesterol and HDL-C increased significantly (p < 0.05) after supplementation with LC but not with placebo. A strong, statistically significant inverse correlation between triglycerides and HDL-C was detected after supplementation with LC but not with placebo. Strong and significant direct correlations between HDL-C and ApoA1 were observed in both groups before and after intervention. No significant correlations between LDL-C and HDL-C or triglycerides and glucose were observed in either group. Conclusions: The significant increase in HDL-C observed in healthy adults after LC supplementation indicates that the nutraceutical could be useful in impeding the development of heart diseases in subjects with low HDL-C.