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Inflammation and l-carnitine therapy in hemodialysis patients: a review

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Abstract

Inflammation is a common complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients with no valid treatment strategy. In addition, carnitine deficiency occurs frequently in HD patients because of intradialytic loss of carnitine, impaired de novo carnitine renal synthesis, and reduced dietary intake. It appears that carnitine deficiency is related to inflammation in HD patients. A few clinical trials have investigated the effect of l-carnitine supplement on inflammatory markers in HD patients. All studies in this field, except one, showed that l-carnitine could significantly reduce C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, as two systemic inflammation markers, in HD patients. Therefore, considering high prevalence of inflammation and carnitine deficiency in HD patients, l-carnitine therapy is a reasonable approach for reducing systemic inflammation and its complications in these patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia

    Saman Khalatbari-Soltani

  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 46, West Arghavan St., Farahzadi Blvd., Shahrak Qods, P.O. Box 19395-4741, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Hadi Tabibi

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  1. Saman Khalatbari-Soltani
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Correspondence to Hadi Tabibi.

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Khalatbari-Soltani, S., Tabibi, H. Inflammation and l-carnitine therapy in hemodialysis patients: a review. Clin Exp Nephrol 19, 331–335 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-014-1061-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-014-1061-3

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