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No effect of insulin treatment or glycemic improvement on plasma carnitine levels in type 2 diabetic patients

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Summary

Carnitine is an essential factor for the transport of long-chain fatty acids and is important for the heart muscle. A longitudinal study in type 2 diabetic patients was carried out. Carnitine levels were observed before and during metabolic intervention with dietary measures and either sulfonylurea or insulin treatment. In both treatment groups a significant glycemic improvement was observed after 3 months (insulin treatment group hemoglobin A1c 11.3 ± 2.8 versus 7.0±1.0; sulfonylurea treatment group; hemoglobin A1c 11.3±1.4 versus 7.3±0.9). Carnitine levels did not differ from a control group and did not change significantly during the observed period.

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Abbreviations

FC:

free carnitine

TC:

total carnitine

AC:

acyl carnitine

HbA1c :

hemoglobin A1c

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I. Medizinische Abteilung der Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung and Institut fur Medizinische Chemie der Universität Wien, Germany

    P. Pregant, E. Kaiser & G. Schernthaner

  2. I. Medizinische Abteilung der Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Juchgasse 25, A-1030, Wien, Austria

    G. Schernthaner

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  1. P. Pregant
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  2. E. Kaiser
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  3. G. Schernthaner
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Pregant, P., Kaiser, E. & Schernthaner, G. No effect of insulin treatment or glycemic improvement on plasma carnitine levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Clin Investig 71, 610–612 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00184484

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00184484

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