Effects of L-carnitine supplementation on serum lipids and apoproteins in hemodialysis patients with LP[a] hyperlipoproteinemia

ABSTRACT

Lipid abnormalities, especially high serum Lp[a] concentrations, are one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on serum lipids and apoproteins in hemodialysis patients with Lp[a] hyperlipoproteinemia. The study was a randomized clinical trial in which 36 hyper Lp[a] hemodialysis patients [23 males and 13 females] with serum Lp[a] more than 30 mg/dl were randomly assigned to receive either a daily oral carnitine supplement of 1000mg [carnitine group] or no supplement [control group] for 12 weeks. At the baseline and the end of the period 5ml blood were collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient before dialysis and serum free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp[a], IL-6 and albumin were measured. As compared to the initial values, the mean serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly in the carnitine group at the end of the period [P<0.001], while serum triglyceride [P<0.05], total cholesterol [P<0.001] and IL-6 [P<0.001] decreased significantly. No significant changes were observed in the serum concentrations of free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol and IL-6 in the control group. In addition, there were no significant differences between the 2groups as regards mean changes of the serum HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp[a], and albumin levels. The results of the present study indicate that an L-carnitine supplement has no effect on serum Lp[a] concentration in hemodialysis patients with Lp[a] hyperlipoproteinemia, but it may be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases by reducing serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in these patients