Protective role of L-carnitine and vitamin E on the kidney of atherosclerotic rats

Atherosclerosis is a condition caused by lipid build up and inflammation in the arteries, so hyperlipidemia is the major reason for atherosclerosis. Kidney was found to be negatively affected by hyperlipidemia which leads to impaired functions of it. Vitamin E and L-carnitine have well-known lipid-lowering and antioxidative activities. Triton WR 1339 is a non-ionic detergent which induces severe hyperlipidemia by inhibition of lipoprotein lipase. The present study evaluates the protective role of vitamin E and L-carnitine on the kidney in atherosclerosis and detects the most effective choice for protection against atherosclerosis; vitamin E, L-carnitine or a combination of both. A total of 80 albino male rats were divided into eight groups (10 rats for each group) as control (G1), Triton (G2), L-carnitine (G3), Triton + L-carnitine (G4), vitamin E (G5), Triton + vitamin E (G6), L-carnitine + vitamin E (G7) and Triton + L-carnitine + vitamin E (G8). Data showed a significant increase in levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, urea, creatinine, uric acid, renal GST and MDA in G2 when compared with G1, while HDL cholesterol, total thiol and catalase data showed a significant decrease in G2 when compared with G1. Treatment with L-carnitine or/and vitamin E helps in improving the adverse effect of triton. So the present study recommends all people to keep L-carnitine and vitamin E in all diets to be protected against atherosclerosis.