Applied nutritional investigationAntiinflammatory effects of l-carnitine supplementation (1000 mg/d) in coronary artery disease patients

- This study examined the antiinflammatory effect of l-carnitine supplements (LC, 1000 mg/d) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
- After 12 wk of LC supplementation, patients with CAD had significantly lower inflammation markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) levels than at baseline and than those in the placebo group.
- The levels of inflammation markers were significantly negatively correlated with antioxidant status after LC supplementation.
- LC has an antiinflammation effect in CAD that may be related to its antioxidant capacity.

ObjectiveInflammation mediators have been recognized as risk factors for the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of l-carnitine supplementation (LC, 1000 mg/d) on inflammation markers in patients with CAD.MethodsWe enrolled 47 patients with CAD in the study. The patients with CAD were identified by cardiac catheterization as having <50% stenosis of one major coronary artery. The patients were randomly assigned to the placebo (n = 24) and LC (n = 23) groups and the intervention was administered for 12 wk. The levels of LC, antioxidant status (malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes activities), and inflammation markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin [IL]-6, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were measured.ResultsThirty-nine participants completed the study (19 placebo; 20 LC). After LC supplementation, the levels of inflammation markers were significantly reduced compared with the baseline (CRP, P < 0.01; IL-6, P = 0.03; TNF-α, P = 0.07) and those in the placebo group (CRP, P < 0.05; IL-6, P = 0.04; TNF-α, P = 0.03). The levels of inflammation markers were significantly negatively correlated with the levels of LC and antioxidant enzymes activities (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe suggest that LC supplementation, due to its antioxidant effects, may have potential utility to reduce inflammation in CAD.