• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.217.3-217.3
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• 2003

Acetyl-L-carnitine, a physiological component of the L-carnitine family, has been proposed for treating Alzheimer's disease in pharmacological doses. Acetyl-L-carnitine and d3-acetylcarnitine (internal standard) were analyzed by electrospray ionization / tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS) after derivatization to their butylesters through treatment with butanolic hydrogen chloride. Acetyl-L-carnitine produced a protonated precursor ion at m/z 260 and a corresponding product ion of m/z 85. Analytes were separated on a Capcell Pak C18 (2.0${\times}$150mm, 5 mm). (omitted)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.799-805
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of L-carnitine with different levels of lysine on performance of pigs weaned at 21 days of age. A total of 120 pigs were allotted into a $3{\times}2$ factorial design with three different levels of lysine (1.40%, 1,60% and 1.80%) and two levels of L-carnitine (0 and 1,000 ppm). Each treatment had 4 replications with 5 pigs per replicate. Pigs of $22{\pm}1$ days (5.9 kg of body weight) were grouped into a completely randomized block design. Treatments were 1) 1.4-Crt; 1.40% of lysine with 1,000 ppm of L-carnitine, 2) 1.4-N; 1.40% of lysine without L-carnitine, 3) 1.6-Crt; 1.60% of lysine with 1,000 ppm of L-carnitine, 4) 1.6-N; 1.60% of lysine without L-carnitine, 5) 1.8-Crt; 1.80% of lysine with 1,000 ppm of L-carnitine and 6) 1.8-N; 1.80% of lysine without L-carnitine. Growth performance was optimized in pigs fed 1.6% lysine regardless of carnitine addition. For the first 7 days of the experimental period, the best ADG and F/G were found in pigs within the 1.6-Crt group. Carnitine significantly improved (p<0.05) ADG of pigs when the lysine level in the diet was 1.6%. Only in the third week carnitine had a significant influence on growth performance of pigs. A lysine-sparing effect of L-carnitine was not detected in this study. The 1.6-Crt group showed the best proximate nutrient digestibility, and the crude fat and gross energy digestibility were higher when the L-carnitine was added in the diet. Lysine level significantly affected the digestibilities of DM (p<0.001), GE (p<0.001), CP (p<0.01) and C.fat (p<0.05). Carnitine also significantly improved digestibility of nutrients. Lysine level as well as carnitine level affected the amino acids digestibility, however, in 1.8% lysine diet carnitine did not influence on amino acids digestibility. Plasma carnitine content was significant higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed L-carnitine. This indicates the increased biological availability of carnitine within the body. L-carnitine supplementation tended to improve feed utilization during the third week (p<0.10) and during the entire period (p=0.10). Lysine level significantly affected feed utilization of pigs during the third week and entire period (p<0.05). As pigs grew, the lysine requirement was reduced.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of lysine-limited diets containing different levels of L-carnitine on body weight and lipid metabolism in obesity-induced adult rats. Eight-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 90) were raised for one month with high fat diet (40% fat as calorie) to induce obesity. After induction of obesity, rats weighing 739.5 g were randomly blocked into three groups according to the body weight and raised for eight weeks with control diet (Co), 50% lysine-limited diet (-L), 50% lysine limitation with 0.3% pivalate diet (-L + P). Each of three groups was allotted to 0.0% L-carnitine (0.0% CT), 0.5% L-carnitine (0.5% CT) and 2.5% L-carnitine (2.5% CT) groups, respectively. The levels of AST, ALT, total protein and albumin in plasma were within the normal range. Daily food intake and calorie intake tended to be lower in 2.5% CT groups than those of other groups regardless lysine limitation or pivalate intake. And body weight gain and calorie efficiency ratio (weight gain (g) /calorie intake (100 kcal)) were significantly the lowest in 2.5% CT groups among all experimental groups regardless of lysine limitation or pivalate intake. The weights of perirenal, epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissue in 2.5% CT groups were significantly lower than 0.0% CT groups. Plasma total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol concentrations in all groups were not significant by experimental compound. HDL-cholesterol concentrations in -L + P +2.5% CT group were highest in -L + P groups. Levels of hepatic total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol in 2.5% CT groups were tend to be lower those than in 0.0% CT groups regardless of dietary lysine limitation and pivalate intake. Fecal total lipid excretions of 2.5% CT groups were significantly lower than in 0.0% CT groups in all experimental groups. But fecal triglyceride excretions of 2.5% CT groups were significantly higher than 0.0% CT groups regardless of lysine limitation and pivalate. In conclusion, there was no difference on body weight and lipid metabolism by dietary lysine limitation and pivalate intake. And feeding of 2.5% L-carnitine was more effective than feeding of 0.5% L-carnitine and 0.0% L-carnitine in reduction of body weight, body fat and lipid metabolism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1763-1769
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the pig semen characteristics during storage. Methods: Spermatozoa samples were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 5 groups: 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM L-carnitine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and antioxidant parameters (total reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) were evaluated after 0, 3, 5, and 10 day cooled-storage at 17℃. Moreover, ATP content, mitochondria activity as well as sperm-binding and in vitro fertilizing ability of preserved boar sperm were also investigated. Results: Supplementation with 50 mM L-carnitine could effectively maintain boar sperm quality parameters such as sperm motility and membrane integrity. Besides, we found that L-carnitine had positive effects on boar sperm quality mainly through improving antioxidant capacities and enhancing ATP content and mitochondria activity. Interestingly, by assessing the effect of L-carnitine on sperm fertility and developmental potential, we discovered that the extender containing L-carnitine could improve sperm quality and increase the number of sperms bounding to zona pellucida, without improving in vitro fertility and development potential. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the proper addition of L-carnitine to the semen extender improved boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17℃.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.791-796
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• 2014

Cryopreservation of epididymal sperm is an effective technique to preserve genetic materials of domestic cats and wild felids when they unexpectedly die. However, this technique inevitably causes detrimental changes of cryopreserved-thawed spermatozoa, for example, by physical damage and excessive oxidative stress. L-carnitine is an antioxidant that has been used to improve sperm motility in humans and domestic animals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on cat epididymal sperm quality following cryopreservation and thawing. After routine castration, cauda epididymides were collected from 60 cat testes. The epididymal spermatozoa from 3 cauda epididymides were pooled as 1 replicate. Spermatozoa samples (16 replicates) were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 4 groups: 0 mM L-carnitine (control), 12.5 mM, 25 mM and 50 mM L-carnitine. The sperm aliquots were then equilibrated and conventionally frozen. After thawing, sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity and acrosome integrity were evaluated. The 25 mM L-carnitine significantly improved sperm motility compared with a control group (p<0.05), although this was not significantly different among other concentrations. In conclusion, supplementation of 25 mM L-carnitine in freezing extender improves cauda epididymal spermatozoa motility. The effects of L-carnitine on the levels of oxidative stress during freezing and thawing remains to be examined.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 1997.11b
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• pp.67-67
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• 1997

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2002

Purpose : Obesity is known to be associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver and is thought to be associated with increased levels of free fatty acids. One of the strategies for decreasing free fatty acid levels is stimulation of hepatic lipid oxidation with L-carnitine. Carnitine is an essential cofactor for transport of long-chain fatty acid into mitochondria for oxidation. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of serum fatty acids and carnitine levels after exogenous injection of L-carnitine. Methods : Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Group A was control. Group B was given intraperitoneal injection with L-carnitine(200 mg/kg) daily for two weeks. Serum lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) and fatty acid levels were analyzed on the first day of the first and second weeks after injection of L-carnitine. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels also were performed by a enzymatic cycling techniques at the same day intervals. Results : There was no significant difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels before and after the administration of L-carnitine. But triglyceride levels were significantly decreased at the first week in group B compared with group A. Among free fatty acids, linoleic acid showed significant decrement(A group : $131.3{\pm}31.3mg/dL$ vs B group : $90.0{\pm}7.0mg/dL$) at the first week. Total, free, and acyl carnitine levels showed significant increments at all days intervals, but only free carnitine showed significant increments according to cumulative doses of carnitine. Conclusion : Plasma linoleic acid, a long-chain fatty acid, showed significant decrement after administration of L-carnitine in the first week. This may suggest that L-carnitine can be used as an antilipidemic agent for obese patients. A prospective study will investigate obese children in the future.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

Long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are transported into cells via plasma transporters, are activated to fatty acyl-CoA by fatty acyl-CoA synthase (ACS), and enter mitochondria via the carnitine system (CPT1/CACT/CPT2). The mitochondrial carnitine system plays an obligatory role in β-oxidation of LCFAs by catalyzing their transport into the mitochondrial matrix. Fatty acyl-CoAs are oxidized via the β-oxidation pathway, which results in the production of acetyl-CoA. The acetyl-CoA can be imported into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for oxidation in the mitochondrial matrix or can be used for malonyl-CoA synthesis by acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) in the cytoplasm. In skeletal muscle, ACC2 catalyzes the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to form malonyl-CoA, which is a potent endogenous inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1). Thus, ACC2 indirectly inhibits the influx of fatty acids into the mitochondria. Fatty acid metabolism can also be regulated by malonyl-CoA-mediated inhibition of CPT1.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate effects of the experimental mixture containing soybean peptides, L-carnitine and Garcinia Cambogia extract on body weight and lipid metabolism in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) of eight weeks old were raised for four weeks with high fat diet (40% fat as calorie) to induce obesity. After induction of obesity, rats were feed control (C) diet, containing either 0.16% (+1D), 1.6% (+10D), 8% (+50D) of experimental mixture for eight weeks. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total protein and albumin concentration were not different among groups. The Body weight gain was significantly lower in experimental mixture diet group compared to control group. Weights of perirenal fat pad and epididymal fat pad in the +50D group were significantly lower than those in the +1D and +10D groups. Plasma total lipid and liver total cholesterol levels in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Fecal total lipid and total cholesterol excretions were highest in +50D group. These results suggest that the experimental mixture containing peptides, L-carnitine and Garsinia Canbogia extract is effective for reducing the body weight and adipose tissue weight which may be due to the modulation of lipid metabolism and the increased fecal excretion of lipid.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2001

Bioequivalence of two acetyl-1-carnitine tablets, test product (Carnitile tablet: Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd.) and reference product (Nicetil $e^{R}$ tablet: Dong-A Pharm. Co., Ltd.), was evaluated according to the guide- lines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty-six healthy volunteers were divided randomly into two groups and administered the drug orally at the dose of 500 mg as acetyl-1-carnitine in a 2$\times$2 crossover study. Blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals for 12 hours and the plasma concentration of acetyl-1-carnitine was determined using HPLC by derivatization with p-bromophenacyl bromide. The pearmacokinetic parameters (AU $C_{0-}$12h/ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$) were calculated and ANOVA was utilized for the statistical analysis of parameters. The apparent differences of these parameters between two drugs were less than 20% (i.e., 1.26,-5.08 and 8.59% for AU $C_{0-}$12h/ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The powers (1-$\beta$) for AU $C_{0-}$12h/ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, and Tmax were over 0.9. Minimal detectable difference ($\Delta$) at $\alpha$=0.05, 1-$\beta$=0.8 were less than 20% (i.e.,7.31, 14.88 and 11.77% for AU $C_{0-}$12h/ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The confidence intervals ($\delta$) for these parameters were also within $\pm$ 20% (i.e.,-3.03$\leq$$\delta$$\leq$5.54, -13.80$\leq$$\delta$$\leq$3.64 and 1.69$\leq$$\delta$$\leq$15.48 for AU $C_{0-}$12h/ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfied the criteria of KFDA guideline for bioequivalence, indicating Carnitile bioequivalent to Nicetil $e^{R}$ .TEX>$^{R}$ .> R/ . R/ .