Original Paper

Effect of L-Carnitine on Weight Loss and Body Composition of Rats Fed a Hypocaloric Diet
Corinna Brandsch, Klaus Eder

Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Halle, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2002;46:205-210 (DOI: 10.1159/000065408)

  Key Words

• Carnitine
• Energy deficiency
• Body weight reduction
• Rat
• Body composition

  Abstract

Background/Aims: Several studies have been published in recent years which suggest that L-carnitine supplementation can influence the lipid metabolism in some species and can also affect body composition of growing animals. Only few results are available so far on the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on weight reduction and body composition of animals fed an energy-deficient diet. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether L-carnitine supplementation combined with an energy-deficient diet can influence weight development and body composition. Methods: An experiment was conducted with 36 rats with an initial body weight of about 460 g. One-third of the rats were killed, the remainder were divided into two groups (control group, treated group) and fed a semi synthetic diet at an energy level of about half of the rats' maintenance requirement. The basal diet was essentially carnitine-free. The diet of the treated group was supplemented with L-carnitine (5 g/kg). The feeding period extended over 23 days. Experimental parameters were weight loss, composition of carcass and weights of the fat pads surrounding the kidneys, intestine and testes; several clinico-chemical plasma parameters were also determined. Results: As was to be expected, the rats lost a considerable amount of weight on the energy-reduced diet. At the same time a shift occurred in the ratio of fat to protein in favour of protein in the carcass, leading to a marked reduction of body fat levels and a slight reduction of protein levels. There were, however, no significant differences between the control group and the treated group (with L-carnitine supplementation) with regard to any of these parameters. The clinico-chemical parameters measured in plasma (glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyric acid) also showed no differences between the groups. Conclusions: The rat model used here did not show a positive effect of L-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition of rats fed an energy-deficient diet. The animals' endogenous carnitine synthesis was obviously adequate to ensure efficient -oxidation of fatty acids during the catabolic phase.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Dr. K. Eder
Institut für Ernährungswissenschaften
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Emil-Abderhaldenstrasse 26, D-06108 Halle/Saale (Germany)
Tel. +49 345 55 22 702, Fax +49 345 55 27 124, E-Mail eder@landw.uni-halle.de

  Article Information

Received: Received: July 30, 2001
Accepted: April 8, 2002
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 29