The effect of L-carnitine supplement on lipidemic and glycemic profile in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

We designed this study to investigate the effects of oral L-carnitine administration on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus type II.

The effect of L-carnitine on FPG and lipid parameters was investigated in 22 male and 14 female type II diabetic patients, mean age±SD was 51.3±3.7 years. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (i.e.test and control groups). One gram of L-carnitine or placebo was given orally three times a day to the test and control groups respectively for a period of 12 weeks.

Fasting plasma glucose in the test group decreased significantly from 143±35 mg/dl to130±33 mg/dl (p=0.03), and a significant increase of triglycerides (TG) from 196±61 mg/dl to 233±116 mg/dL (p=0.05), of APO A1 from 94±20 mg/dL to103±23 mg/dl (p=0.02), of APO B100 from 98±18 mg/dL to108±22 mg/dl (p=0.02) after 12 weeks of treatment was observed. There were no significant changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1C or in total cholesterol (TC) between the two groups.

L-carnitine significantly lowers fasting plasma glucose but increases fasting triglycerides in type II diabetic patients.