Carnitine therapy for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease: evidence and controversies

A M Johri; D K Heyland; M-F Hétu; B Crawford; J D Spence

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2014.03.007

Carnitine therapy for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease: evidence and controversies

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014 Aug;24(8):808-14. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

Authors

A M Johri¹, D K Heyland², M-F Hétu³, B Crawford³, J D Spence⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Network at Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. Electronic address: amerschedule@gmail.com.
² Department of Medicine, Division of Community Health and Epidemiology, and Clinical Evaluation Research Unit at Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging Network at Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
⁴ Robarts Research Institute and University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.

PMID: 24837277
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2014.03.007

Abstract

As the incidence of metabolic syndrome increases, there is also a growing interest in finding safe and inexpensive treatments to help lower associated risk factors. L-carntine, a natural dietary supplement with the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis, has been the subject of recent investigation and controversy. A majority of studies have shown benefit of L-C supplementation in the metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular risk factors. However, recent work has suggested that dietary L-C may accelerate atherosclerosis via gut microbiota metabolites, complicating the role of L-C supplementation in health.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery disease; Diabetes; Metabolic syndrome; Plaque; l-Carnitine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Oral
Animals
Athletes
Blood Pressure / drug effects
Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy*
Carnitine / deficiency
Carnitine / therapeutic use*
Cholesterol / blood
Dietary Supplements
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy*

Substances

Cholesterol
Carnitine