Carnitine supplement inhibits the increase of the level of serum lipids in hyperlipemia rabbits

Objective: Carnitine,the only carrier for the fatty acid crossing into mitochondria for oxidization,has a significant effect on the metabolism serum lipids.The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different doses of carnitine supplement on serum lipids in hyperlipemia rabbits. Methods: Twenty-eight rabbits were equally randomized into a control and three experimental groups,the former fed on high-fat diet,and the latter on carnitine at the dose of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg respectively every day in addition to high-fat diet.Blood samples were collected from the central artery of the rabbits for the measurement of the total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),apolipoprotein B(ApoB) and free carnitine in the serum,their body weight obtained at 0,1,2,3,4 and 5 weeks,and the effects of different doses of carnitine supplement were observed on serum lipids.Results: All the 28 rabbits were included in the result analysis.The hyperlipemia model was successfully established after 4 weeks of high-fat diet.Compared with the control group,the experimental groups showed a remarkable decrease in the levels of TC,TG,LDL-C and AapoB and an increase in that of HDL-C in the serum,positively correlated with the dose and time of carnitine supplement.With the lengthening of time,the effects of different doses of carnitine supplement on the serum lipids was gradually decreased.Conclusion: Carnitine supplement can inhibit the increase of the levels of TC,TG,LDL-C and AapoB in the serum of the rabbits with hyperlipemia induced by high-fat diet and the effect is positively correlated with the dose and time of carnitine supplement.