Effects of oral L-carnitine, L-lysine administration and exercise on body composition and histological and biochemical parameters in pigeons

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine whether l‐carnitine and its precursor l‐lysine could have any beneficial effect in racing pigeons, and if so, whether this effect is influenced by the extent of exercise (short‐distance flight: 135 km vs. long‐distance flight: 580 km). Birds were divided into seven groups of animals. Group 1: negative control, no flight, no treatment, Group 2: positive control, placebo treatment before the short‐distance flight, Group 3: 200 mg/day l‐carnitine treatment before the short‐distance flight, Group 4: 400 mg/day l‐lysine treatment before the short‐distance flight, Group 5: positive control, placebo treatment before the long‐distance flight, Group 6: 200 mg/day l‐carnitine treatment before the long‐distance flight, Group 7: 400 mg/day l‐lysine treatment before the long‐distance flight. l‐carnitine, l‐lysine and distilled water (placebo) were orally administered (tube feeding) for 7 days before flight. Just after returning home, blood samples were collected and analyzed for glucose, fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Pigeons were euthanized using carbon dioxide as an inhalation agent, and the whole body was subjected to proximate analysis. The status at arrival was referred to as a basis for comparison. Sex did not affect the measured parameters. As a result of the l‐carnitine and l‐lysine administrations, the body fat mobilization was higher during the 580 km flight, whereas no changes were noted during the 135 km flight. The main changes in the measured blood parameters were caused by the extent of exercise. This experiment considered the extent of exercise as a factor potentially modulating l‐carnitine supplementation effects. In conclusion, flight distance affected several parameters but the supplements of l‐carnitine and l‐lysine were not effective in the tested situations.