Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Serum Lipids and Apoproteins in Hemodialysis Patients with Lp(a) Hyperlipoproteinemia

Lipid abnormalities, especially high serum Lp(a) concentrations, are one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on serum lipids and apoproteins in hemodialysis patients with Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia. The study was a randomized clinical trial in which 36 hyper Lp(a) hemodialysis patients (23 males and 13 females) with serum Lp(a) more than 30 mg/dl were randomly assigned to receive either a daily oral carnitine supplement of 1000mg (carnitine group) or no supplement (control group) for 12 weeks. At the baseline and the end of the period 5ml blood were collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient before dialysis and serum free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp(a), IL-6 and albumin were measured. As compared to the initial values, the mean serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly in the carnitine group at the end of the period (P<0.001), while serum triglyceride (P<0.05), total cholesterol (P<0.001) and IL-6 (P<0.001) decreased significantly. No significant changes were observed in the serum concentrations of free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol and IL-6 in the control group. In addition, there were no significant differences between the 2groups as regards mean changes of the serum HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp(a), and albumin levels. The results of the present study indicate that an L-carnitine supplement has no effect on serum Lp(a) concentration in hemodialysis patients with Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia, but it may be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases by reducing serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in these patients.