Effect of L-carnitine on plasma glycemic and lipidemic profile in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Objective: 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. Patients and methods: The effect of L-carnitine on FPG and lipid parameters was investigated in 22 male and 13 female type II diabetic patients; the mean age+/-s.d. was 51.3+/-3.7 y. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups (L-carnitine and placebo group) and 1 g of L-carnitine or of placebo was given orally three times a day for a period of 12 weeks. Results: FPG in the L-carnitine group decreased significantly from 143+/-35 to 130+/-33 mg/dl (P=0.03), and we observed a significant increase of triglycerides (TG) from 196+/-61 to 233+/-12 mg/dl (P=0.05), of Apo A1 from 94+/-20 to 103+/-23 mg/dl (P=0.02), and of Apo B100 from 98+/-18 to 108+/-22 mg/dl (P=0.02) after 12 weeks of treatment. There was no significant change in LDL-C, HDL-C, HbA1C, LP(a) or total cholesterol. Conclusion: L-Carnitine significantly lowers FPG but increases fasting triglyceride in type II diabetic patients.