Effect of L-Carnitine on Blood Lipid Composition in Atherosclerotic Rats.

Abstract

The effect of L-carnitine on serum lipids was studied in rats with experimentally-induced atherosclerosis. L-Carnitine at a dose of 300mg/kg body weight was given intraperitoneally for 7 days after the induction of atherosclerosis. Carnitine caused a significant reduction in the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and free fatty acids and elicited a significant increase in HDL cholesterol. The significant reduction observed in the LDL/HDL ratio is prominent from the therapeutic point of view in the treatment against hypercholesterolemia in experimental atherosclerosis.