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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2010; 118(10): 735-740
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1261912
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

L-Carnitine Supplementation and Adipokines in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Regular Hemodialysis

B. Csiky1 , 2 , Z. Nyul3 , G. Tóth3 , I. Wittmann2 , B. Melegh4 , M. Rauh5 , W. Rascher5 , E. Sulyok6
  • 1FMC Dialysis Center Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • 2Nephrological Center and 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • 4Department of Medical Genetics and Child Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
  • 5Klinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nürnberg, Germany
  • 6Institute of Public Health and Health Promotion and Family Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Further Information

Publication History

received 23.11.2009 first decision 10.03.2010

accepted 31.05.2010

Publication Date:
23 July 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients frequently encounter carnitine depletion, elevated adipose tissue-derived hormones/cytokines, that may contribute to accelerated arteriosclerosis. 10 non-diabetic HD patients were studied over 28 weeks. In the 12 weeks treatment period 1 g l-carnitine was given iv after each HD session. Measurements of plasma free- and acylcarnitines, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin were performed at baseline, at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12 (treatment period) and at weeks 24–28 (post-treatment period). L-carnitine supplementation resulted in progressive increase of free- and acylcarnitine levels. Plasma levels of insulin, resistin, leptin and ghrelin remained at the already elevated baseline values. L-carnitine therapy induced a significant increase in plasma adiponectin from 20.2±12.7 μg/ml (baseline) to 32.7±20.2 μg/ml in week 2 (p<0.05) and 35.4±19.6 μg/ml in week 12 (p<0.03), which remained unchanged in the post-carnitine period. Plasma insulin levels correlated positively with leptin (r=0.525, p<0.0001) and resistin (r=0.284, p<0.005); adiponectin levels correlated inversely with leptin (r=−0.255, p<0.02) and resistin (r=−0.213, p<0.04) irrespective of carnitine status. Plasma levels of adipokines and related hormones are greatly elevated in patients on regular HD. L-carnitine administration further augmented the plasma levels of protective adiponectin, therefore it may have a role in preventing cardiovascular complications of uremia.

Key words

adipokines - carnitine - end-stage renal disease - hemodialysis

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Correspondence

B. CsikyMD, PhD 

FMC Dialysis Center Pécs

2nd Department of Medicine

and Nephrological Center

Faculty of Medicine

University of Pécs

Pacsirta u. l. H-7624 Pécs

Hungary

Phone: +36/72/536 067

Fax: +36/72/536 070

Email: botond.csiky@gmail.com