Abstract
The effect of oral L-carnitine administration to rats fed olive oil has been studied. Carnitine significantly decreased triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid levels. Particularly, the levels of chylomicron and very low density lipoproteins in the blood were lowered. Low density lipoprotein levels were not affected, and high density lipoproteins were found to be decreased by 20%. Because carnitine did not change the composition of chylomicron and very low density lipoproteins fraction or affect the gastrointestinal triglyceride residue (about 1/3 of the original load), an effect of carnitine on hepatic fatty acid handling is most likely. The lowering of plasma free fatty acid levels by carnitine administration is in favor of an effect of carnitine on fatty acid handling. The effect on the liver is illustrated by the study of acetoacetate formation in in vitro perfused livers from previously olive oil loaded±carnitine-treated rats. Carnitine pretreatment stimulated ketogenesis. It is speculated that carnitine administration, by promoting β-oxidation, lowers the production of very low density lipoproteins. This may be accomplished partly by an increase in the hepatic level of fatty acid binding protein, which also has been observed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fritz, I.B. (1959)Am. J. Physiol. 197, 297–304.
Angelini, C., Lucke, S., and Cantarutti, F. (1976)Neurology 26, 633–637.
Karpati, G., Carpenter, S., Engel, A.G., Watters, G., Allen, G., Rothman, S., Klassen, G., and Mamer, O.O. (1975)Neurology 25, 16–24.
Chapoy, P.R., and Angelini, C. (1980)N. Engl. J. Med. 303, 1389–1394.
Maccari, F., Ramacci, M.T., and Angelucci, L. (1980) inDiet and Drugs in Atherosclerosis (Noseda, G., Lewis, B., and Paoletti, R., eds.) pp. 15–21, Raven Press, New York, NY.
Maccari, F., Pessotto, P., Ramacci, M.T., and Angelucci, L. (1985)Life Sci. 36, 1967–1975.
Redgrave, T.G., Roberts, D.C.K., and West, C.E., (1975)Anal. Biochem. 65, 42–49.
Dole, V.P. (1956)J. Clin. Invest. 35, 150–154.
Wahlefeld, A.W. (1974) inMethods of Enzymatic Analysis (Bergmeyer, H.U., ed.) Vol. 4, pp. 1831–1835, Verlag Chemie Weinheim, Academic Press, New York, NY.
Roeschlau, P., Bernt, E., and Gruber, W. (1974)Z. Klin. Chem. Klin. Biochem. 12, 403–410.
Trinder, P. (1969)Am. Clin. Biochem. 6, 24–31.
Takayama, M., Itoh, S., Nagasaki, T., and Tanimizu, I. (1977)Clin. Chim. Acta 79, 93–98.
Shenai, J.P., Borum, P.R., Mohan, P., and Donlevy, S.C. (1983)Pediatr. Res. 17, 579–582.
Brass, E.P., and Hoppel, C.L. (1978)J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2688–2693.
Pasquinelli, F. (1982) inDiagnostica e Tecniche di Laboratorio, Vol. 1, parte I, p. 1603, Rosini Editrice, Firenze, Italy.
Kvetina, J., and Guaitani, A. (1969)Pharmacology Basel 2, 65–81.
Williamson, D.H. (1974) inMethods of Enzymatic Analysis (Bergmeyer, H.U., ed.) Vol. 4, pp. 1836–1843, Verlag Chemie Weinheim, Academic Press, New York, NY.
Laurell, C.B. (1966)Anal. Biochem. 15, 45–52.
Woldegiorgis, Q., Bremer, J., and Shrago, E. (1985)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 837, 135–140.
McGarry, J.D., Robles-Valdes, C., and Foster, D.W. (1975)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 72, 4385–4388.
Kushlan, M.C., Gollan, J.L., Ma, W.L., and Ockner, R.K. (1981)J. Lipid Res. 22, 431–436.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Maccari, F., Arseni, A., Chiodi, P. et al. L-carnitine effect on plasma lipoproteins of hyperlipidemic fat-loaded rats. Lipids 22, 1005–1008 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536440
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02536440