[ effect of acute L-carnitine supplementation on the blood lactate, glucose, VO[2max] and power in trained men: a brief report]

ABSTRACT

Probably L-Carnitine can induce increasing of Pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, decreasing of lactic acid production and performance improvements due to the reinforcement of long chain fatty acid oxidation and stabilize of Coenzyme A [CoASH] to free Coenzyme A [COA]. Based on this, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute L-Carnitine supplementation on blood lactate, glucose, VO[2max] and anaerobic power in trained men. Sixteen trained men [aged 19-23] volunteers from University of Guilan, faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences participated as subjects in this investigation. Subjects divided to aerobic [A] and anaerobic [An] group randomly. In a double blind design, subjects participated in two separated tests by one week. Subjects ingested 3 grams of L-Carnitine supplementation or placebo [maltodextrin] 90 minute before aerobic and anaerobic exercise. For aerobic activity used shuttle run 20 meter and for anaerobic activity used RAST test. Blood samples were collected 5 minute prior at rest and 4 minute post tests. Participants were asked in the morning to obtain fasting blood samples and perform tests. A t-test was used to detect differences between supplementation and placebo groups in each exercise. L-Carnitine group [[A] 141.25 +/- 20.62 and [An] 145.38 +/- 55.47] significantly had lower lactate concentration than placebo [[A] 151.00 +/- 20.85 and [An] 152.50 +/- 28.59] after tests [P L-Carnitine group [[A] 136.00 +/- 19.74 and [An] 115.50 +/- 13.64] had significantly higher blood glucose compared to placebo [[A] 121.62 +/- 15.65 and [An] 110.12 +/- 12.63] too [P power in L-Carnitine group were significantly more than ones in placebo [P<0.05]. These findings indicate that acute oral supplementation of L-Carnitine can induce fatigue decreasing and improvement of aerobic and anaerobic performance