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Kim: The Effects of Carnitine Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients
Original Article
The Ewha Medical Journal

The Ewha Medical Journal 2012; 35(2): 89-94.

Published online: 30 September 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2012.35.2.89

The Effects of Carnitine Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients

Seung-Jung Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Seung-Jung Kim, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 158-710, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2650-2648, Fax: 82-2-2655-2076, sjkimwon@ewha.ac.kr

Received 27 July 2012       Accepted 17 August 2012

Copyright © 2012. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Patients receiving hemodialysis have been shown to be carnitine deficient due to many causes. Tissues, especially the skeletal muscle and myocardium, require carnitine for the production of energy. This study was performed to find out the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on muscular symptoms and cardiac functions in dialysis patients.

Methods

Among 72 hemodialysis patients, 40 patients who showed decreased free carnitine levels were selected to receive L-carnitine intravenously after each hemodialysis session for 6 months. Before and after supplementation, echocardiography, various neurologic examinations and questionnaires were obtained.

Results

After carnitine treatment for 6 months (1~1.5 g per every hemodialysis session), the blood level of carnitine was increased more than 10 times (19.04±7.12 µmol/L vs. 267.24±69.94 µmol/L, P<0.001). The left ventricular ejection fraction was improved in the patients who have less than 60% of ejection fraction (56.45±2.53% vs. 60.44±6.29%, P=0.03) after carnitine treatment. The neurological symptom score and isometric muscle power (pinch power) were improved, but the total neuropathy score, activities of daily living scale and grip power were not changed after carnitine supplementation on dialysis patients.

Conclusion

Regular L-carnitine supplementation on hemodialysis patients can improve their left ventricular ejection fraction and some parts of functionality.

Keywords: Cardiac function, Carnitine, Hemodialysis, Neuropathy

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Isometric muscle power. Pinch power is improved after supplementation of L-carninine, but grip power is not changed (*P=0.002).
emj-35-89-g001
Fig. 2
Neurological symptom score is improved after 6 month-carnitine treatment (*P=0.002).
emj-35-89-g002
Fig. 3
The mean left ventricular ejection fraction of total patients is not changed after L-carnitine supplementation (A, n=35). However, the left ventricular ejection fraction is improved in the patients who have less than 60% of ejection fraction (B, n=11) (*P=0.03).
emj-35-89-g003
Fig. 4
The changes of left ventricular ejection fractions among 11 patients who have less than 60% of ejection fraction.
emj-35-89-g004
Table 1
The level of total, free and acyl carnitines in dialysis patients
emj-35-89-i001

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