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Effect of L-carnitine Supplementation on Nutritional Status and Physical Performance Under Calorie Restriction

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Abstract

L-carnitine is popular as a potential ergogenic aid because of its role in the conversion of fat into energy. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of short term supplementation of L-carnitine on metabolic markers and physical efficiency tests under short term calorie restriction. Male albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 12 in each)—control, calorie restricted (CR for 5 days, 25 % of basal food intake), L-carnitine supplemented (CAR, given orally for 5 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg), CR with L-carnitine supplementation (CR + CAR). Food intake and body weight of the rats were measured along with biochemical variables like blood glucose, tissue glycogen, plasma and muscle protein and enzymatic activities of CPT-1 (carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1) and AMP kinase. Results demonstrated that L-carnitine caused marked increase in muscle glycogen, plasma protein, CPT-1 activity and swim time of rats (P < 0.05) on short term supplementation. In addition to the substantive effects caused by CR alone, L-carnitine under CR significantly affected muscle glycogen, plasma protein, CPT-1 activity and AMP kinase (P < 0.05). Short term CR along with L-carnitine also resulted in increased swim time of rats than control, CR and L-carnitine treated rats (P < 0.05). The present study was an attempt towards developing an approach for better adherence to dietary restriction regimen, with the use of L-carnitine.

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Acknowledgment

Authors are thankful to DIPAS, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the financial support of the study.

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  1. Nutrition Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi, 110054, India

    Swati Jain & Som Nath Singh

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  1. Swati Jain
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Correspondence to Som Nath Singh.

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Jain, S., Singh, S.N. Effect of L-carnitine Supplementation on Nutritional Status and Physical Performance Under Calorie Restriction. Ind J Clin Biochem 30, 187–193 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-014-0437-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-014-0437-1

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