• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1263-1271
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• 2000

A total of 80 piglets ($5.85{\pm}0.62kg$ BW; 21 d of age) were used to study the effect of carnitine addition to extruded full-fat soybean (EFS) diets on the growth of weaned pigs. Pigs were allotted into five treatments based on body weight, in a completely randomized block design. Each treatment has 4 replicates of 4 heads each. Treatments were 1) SBM (positive control), 2) EFS without carnitine (negative control), 3) EFS with 50 ppm carnitine, 4) EFS with 100 ppm carnitine and 5) EFS with 150 ppm carnitine. During d 0 to 14, piglets were fed diets containing 3,400 kcal ME, 23% crude protein, 1.65% lysine, 0.9% Ca and 0.8% P and for the period of d 15 to 28, piglets were fed diets supplying 3,300 kcal ME, 20% crude protein, 1.55% lysine, 0.9% Ca and 0.8% P. The urease activity of EFS (0.18) were three times higher than SBM (0.07). During d 0-14, pigs fed SBM had greater ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed extruded full-fat soybean diets (p<0.05). Feed conversion ratio was not different among treatments. No linear or quadratic effect of carnitine addition was found in growth performance. During d 15-28, piglets fed SBM diet also showed better ADG and FCR with no significant differences among treatments. Feed intake tended to increase as carnitine addition level was increased (p=0.10). For overall period (d o to 28), the best performance was observed in pigs fed SBM diet. CP digestibility was higher in pigs fed SBM diet than piglets fed EFS diet at d 14, and DM and CP digestibility tended to be higher in pigs fed SBM diet at d 28. Blood metabolites (BUN, glucose and cholesterol)were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, based on the results of this study piglets at 21 d of age appeared to be not ready for extruded full-fat soybean (FFSB) in their diets. Piglets fed extruded FFSB showed decreased growth rate compared to piglets fed SBM diet. Nutrient utilization was also poor in piglets fed extruded FFSB diets. L-carnitine addition at the level of 50 to 150 ppm was not effective in improving the growth performance of pigs fed EFS diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2006

Fifty castrated crossbred ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$) pigs, weighing an average of $60.6{\pm}3.1kg$ were allotted to one of five treatments in a randomized block design to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of 0.1% L-carnitine (50 ppm carnitine), 0.1% selenium-enriched yeast (0.3 ppm selenium), 0.1% Jujube fruit or 0.1% Hwangto (Red clay) on pig performance and carcass quality. All diets were based on corn, wheat, soybean meal and wheat bran and were formulated to supply 13.8 MJ DE/kg. Dietary supplementation did not influence daily gain (p = 0.57), feed intake (p = 0.52), or feed conversion (p = 0.32). Digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.60), organic matter (p = 0.74), crude protein (p = 0.76), crude fibre (p = 0.70) and energy (p = 0.75) were also unaffected by inclusion of any of the additives. Tissue samples taken from the longissimus muscle showed that the levels of carnitine (p = 0.0001) and selenium (p = 0.0001) were significantly higher with dietary inclusion of carnitine or selenium-enriched yeast. Dietary treatment did not affect dressing percentage (p = 0.33), carcass lean yield (p = 0.99) or first, $10^{th}$ and last rib midline backfat depth (p = 0.45, 0.82 and 0.47, respectively). Dietary treatment also did not affect the percentages of tenderloin (p = 0.37), bacon (p = 0.36), fat and bone (p = 0.56), picnic shoulder (p = 0.25), skirt (p = 0.80), fresh ham (p = 0.31) or ribs (p = 0.79). However, pigs fed the diet containing Jujube fruit had a higher percentage of Boston butt than pigs fed the carnitine or selenium supplemented diets (p = 0.01). Pigs fed added Hwangto had a higher (p = 0.04) percentage of loin compared with pigs fed supplementary selenium or Jujube fruit. Loin muscle from pigs fed carnitine had a significantly lower Hunter colour value for L (whiteness, p = 0.004) and a higher value for $a^*$ (redness; p = 0.069). The overall results indicate that supplementation with L-carnitine and selenium-enriched yeast can produce pork containing higher levels of carnitine and selenium, which could provide health benefits for consumers of pork without detrimental effects on pig performance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2019

Mobilization of storage lipids is critical for the germination of oil seeds, as they supply carbon and energy until photosynthesis commences in cotyledons. In this study, we determined the levels of plant carnitine and associated changes in these levels from seed germination to cotyledon senescence. We also examined changes in the content of unsaturated fatty acids throughout seedling development. Carnitine levels peaked on day 3 at 14.5 nM in cotyledons and decreased sharply to 7.2 nM on day 4. On development day 3 carnitine levels were maintained at around 3 nM until day 7. The unsaturated fatty acid content dropped by half at the same time as carnitine peaked (day-3), and storage lipids were almost depleted by day 5. Thereafter, carnitine was hardly detected until the second stage of cotyledon senescence, at which stage the carnitine content was 6.8 nM, similar to that on day 4 at the time of fatty acid depletion in the cotyledons. Unsaturated fatty acids levels remained constant in green cotyledons but slightly increased in the senescing cotyledons. The latter can be explained by intracellular breakdown of membrane lipids. This is the first such discovery in developing cotyledons and may offer clues regarding other roles of the acetyl unit transport system in plants. The expression of BOU was closely associated with carnitine metabolism during seed germination and cotyledon development. The results provide support for the possibility of carbon re-routing during the glyoxylate cycle in the supply of energy for early germination and development.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2002

Carnitine is considered a conditionally essential nutrient because dietary sources may become important under conditions which either reduce biosynthesis or increase urinary excretion of carnitine. Therefore, it is important to have a database for dietary analysis for carnitine content. Because there is limited data available for the carnitine content of Korean foods, this study was undertaken to analyze the total carnitine (TCNE) content of 146 commonly consumed Korean foods. TCNE concentrations were assayed using a modified radioisotopic method. Beef and pork contained 91.09 and 17.21 mg TCNE / 100 g weight, respectively. Fish and shellfish ranged from 0.28 to 24.87 mg TCNE / 100g weight. TCNE concentration in milk was 1.77 mg / 100 mL and cheese was 0.49 mg / 100 g weight. Cereals and pulses contained between 0 and 1.43 mg TCNE / 100 g weight. The TCNE concentration of most fruits and vegetables was between 0 and 0.7 mg 1100 g weight. However, mushrooms contained between 2.77 and 7.02 mg of TCNE / 100 g weight. Soy sauce, soybean paste and fermented red pepper soybean paste contained 1.05, 0.28 and 0.5 mg TCNE / 100 g weight, respectively. These results demonstrate that TCNE concentrations are high in meat, fish, shellfish and milk, but low or non-existent fruits and vegetables. However, mushrooms are a substantial source of vegetable derived TCNE. These data will be useful in establishing a database for determining the TCNE content of Korean diets.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.429-437
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• 1991

Beta hydroxytrimethylammonium butyrate[L-carnitine] is highly concentrated in myocardium and it is essential substance for transfer of fatty acids into the mitochondria. We respect that L-carnitine has protective action to myocardium during ischemia. I studied coronary flow and CK - MB isoenzyme of coronary effluent of Langendorff`s isolated rat heart model. As a control group 5 Sprague-Dowley species rat hearts were connected to Langendorff`s isolated rat heart model and perfused for 30 minutes with Kreb-Henseleit buffer solution. After cessation of perfusion for 30 minutes they were reperfused for 30 minutes. In experimental group 10 Sprague-Dowley species rat hearts were perfused with 10mmole /L of L-carnitine contained in Kleb-Henseleit buffer solution. In equilibrium state, coronary flow was 1.7 times greater in experimental group. During reperfusion, both group showed equally decreased flow amount of about 60% of that of equilibrium state. CK-MB isoenzyme level of perfused coronary fluid showed no significant difference in equilibrium state. In reperfusion. CK-MB isoenzyme levels of control group were 17.61$\pm$8. 68U/L at 25 minutes, 23.32$\pm$4.15U /L at 30 minutes; and in experimental group, 13.63$\pm$6. 08U/L at 15 minutes and 13.6$\pm$8.41U /L at 30 minutes respectively. Those values in both states showed significantly lower CK-MB level in experimental group. In conclusion, L-carnitine prevent ischemic myocardial damage during ischemic and reperfusion state of Langendorff`s isolated rat hearts and also I suggest the L-carnitine act potent coronary vasodilator during preischemic and postischemic states of rat hearts.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

The goal of this study was to investigate abnotmalities in camitine metabolism present by determining blood camitine and lipid concentrations in Korean diabetic patients. The study subjects included 108 Korean diabetic patients (64 males and 44 females) who were hospitalized in Chonbuk National University Hospital and 27 subjects were also hospitalized as non-diabetic controls (10 males and 17 females). Glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol in plasma were enzymatically assayed and insulin was measured by immunoradiometric assay. Nonesterified camitine (NEC), acid-soluble acylcarnitine (ASAC), and acid-insoluble acylcarnitine (AIAC) were determined by a modified radioisotopic method Glucose and insulin levels were significantly elevated in diabetic patients compared with controls. Total cholesterol was elevated in female but not male diabetic patients and triglycerides were elevated both in male and female diabetics. Plasma and urinary total carnitine (TCNE) were significantly elevated in diabetics as compared with normal controls. In male diabetics, NEC concentrations were significantly elevated above controls, but not in female subjects. Plasma NEC and TCNE concentrations were significantly increased in male diabetics, but significantly decreased in female diabetics. All urinary carnitine concentrations were significantly increased in diabetics as compared with controls. Urinary NEC concentrations were four times higher in male diabetics and three times higher in female diabetics than in controls. The ratios of serum and urinary acylcarnitine/NEC were also significantly higher in diabetics than in controls. This study suggested that there was a remarkable abnormality in lipid and carnitine metabolism in Korean diabetic patients, and the further study on carnitine metabolism and the effects of carnitine supplementation for Korean diabetic patients are needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1809-1815
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• 2003

A $3{\times}4$ (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast Cr and L-carnitine to corn-soybean meal diets on lipid metabolism of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old avian chickens were randomly allocated to 12 treatments of 40 each for 7 weeks. Levels of adding Cr were 0, 400, $600{\mu}g/kg$ and those of Lcarnitine was 0, 30, 50, 100 mg/kg, respectively. The result showed that adding $600{\mu}g/kg$ Cr or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine alone had better regulative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism than lower adding levels. Effects were more significant at the end of the experiment. There were significantly interactive effects between Cr and L-carnitine on triaclyglycerol, whole cholesterol, HDL, dissociating FFA, and blood glucose, cholesterol and triaclyglycerol of liver, and cholesterol of chest muscle at the end of experiment (p=0.0001-0.0315). But Cr or L-carnitine had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens (p>0.05).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.196-205
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• 2010

This study evaluated the effects of carnitine and/or GABA supplementation on immune function, lipid profiles and some vitamins in mice chronically administered alcohol. BALB/c mice were fed with either AIN-76 diet (N), control diet plus alcohol (4 g/kg bw, E), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine (EC), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (EG), or E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (ECG) for 6 weeks. Administrations of the carnitine and/or GABA prevented alcohol-induced increases in triglyceride concentrations in serum and liver. However, there was no difference among the supplemented groups. Serum vitamin E concentration was higher in mice supplemented with EC and EG, but not in mice given ECG. Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was increased in EG group compared with E group. The subpopulations of murine splenocyte's TH cells were increased significantly in EC and ECG groups. These data suggest that immune function, lipid profiles and some immune-related lipid soluble vitamins were positively changed by supplementation of carnitine or GABA, but do not show any synergistic effect of mixed supplementation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2009

Carnitine is known to be involved in lipid metabolism and affects body composition as well as energy metabolism of the whole body. Improvement of obesity by L-carnitine supplement suggests that obesity can be related with the abnormality of carnitine metabolism and therefore, plasma carnitine level in normal and obesity groups was investigated. For the characterization of plasma carnitine level in obese people, 60 plasma samples collected from Korean women subjects were analyzed using LC/MS and plasma fatty acid level was also determined using GC/MS. Additionally, several clinical chemical parameters including fasting glucose, cholesterol, AST, and ALT level were measured. All the data obtained were combined and pattern recognition analysis was carried out with the dataset. Obese group showed a different metabolic pattern compared with normal group. Plasma acylcarnitine level of the obese group was found to be $11.7{\mu}g/ml$, which was higher than that of normal group ($8.0{\mu}g/ml$). Statistically significant differences in plasma fatty acid level were not observed between the two groups. Other clinical parameters for the obese group were within normal ranges but AST and ALT levels were slightly elevated compared to normal group. The obese group showed elevated plasma acylcarnitine level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.711-719
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• 2003

The effects of taurine, carnitine or glutamine supplementation on endurance exercise performance along with related fatigue factors were evaluated in male college students in the Department of Physical Education, who's maximal oxygen consumption rates (VO$_2$max) were equivalent to those of endurance athletes. Twenty four subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6), and given placebo, taurine (4 g/day), carnitine (4 g/day), or glutamine (4 g/day) tablets for 2 weeks. Subjects could run 6.9 min or 9.0 min longer until exhausted on a treadmill at the intensity of 75% VO$_2$max following taurine or camitine supplementation for 2 weeks, respectively, compared to the value measured prior to each supplementation. Glutamine or placebo supplementation did not improve the endurance exercise performance based on the running time until exhausted on a treadmill. Serum lactate concentrations measured 1 hr after the initiation of the endurance exercise, as well as at all-out state tended to be decreased by taurine, carnitine, or glutamine supplementation, and were significantly lowered (43% decrease) by carnitine supplementation (p < 0.05). Taurine supplementation significantly reduced the serum inorganic phosphorus concentration measured at all-out state (14% decrease, p < 0.05), while carnitine supplementation significantly lowered the resting state serum inorganic phosphorus level (20% decrease, p < 0.05). Taurine (32% reduction) or carnitine (23% reduction) supplementation significantly decreased serum ammonia concentration measured at all-out state (p < 0.05). From these results, 4 g/day of taurine or carnitine supplementation appears to improve the endurance exercise performance and related human fatigue factors.