Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
-
J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Mar 2015
Oral L-carnitine supplementation increases trimethylamine-N-oxide but reduces markers of vascular injury in hemodialysis patients.
Food or supplement-derived L-carnitine is changed to trimethylamine (TMA) by interstinal microbiota, which is further metabolized to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), being involved in the promotion of atherosclerosis in animal models. Meanwhile, carnitine deficiency has played a role in accelerated atherosclerosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on circulating levels of TMAO and markers of vascular injury and oxidative stress in patients on HD remain unclear. In this study, we addressed the issue. ⋯ This study demonstrated that although oral L-carnitine supplementation was associated with increased TMAO levels, it might be beneficial on vascular injury in patients on HD. Vasculoprotective properties of L-carnitine supplementation in HD patients might be ascribed partly to its inhibitory actions on AGE.