Prevention of free fatty acid-induced hepatic lipotoxicity by carnitine via reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction

Background: Mitochondria are the main sites for fatty acid oxidation and play a central role in lipotoxicity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Aims: We investigated whether carnitine prevents free fatty acid (FFA)‐induced lipotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Methods: HepG2 cells were incubated with FFA, along with carnitine and carnitine complexes. Mitochondrial β‐oxidation, transmembrane potential, intracellular ATP levels and changes in mitochondrial copy number and morphology were analysed. Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima Fatty and Long‐Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats were segregated into three experimental groups and fed for 8 weeks with (i) normal chow, (ii) a methionine choline‐deficient (MCD) diet or (iii) an l‐carnitine‐supplemented MCD diet. Results: Carnitine prevented FFA‐induced apoptosis (16% vs. 3%, P