Issue 8, 2015

Modulation of tissue fatty acids by l-carnitine attenuates metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese rats

Abstract

Obesity and dyslipidaemia are metabolic defects resulting from impaired lipid metabolism. These impairments are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Correcting the defects in lipid metabolism may attenuate obesity and dyslipidaemia, and reduce cardiovascular risk and liver damage. L-Carnitine supplementation was used in this study to enhance fatty acid oxidation so as to ameliorate diet-induced disturbances in lipid metabolism. Male Wistar rats (8–9 weeks old) were fed with either corn starch or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diets for 16 weeks. Separate groups were supplemented with L-carnitine (1.2% in food) on either diet for the last 8 weeks of the protocol. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats showed central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinaemia, cardiovascular remodelling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. L-Carnitine supplementation attenuated these high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced changes, together with modifications in lipid metabolism including the inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity, reduced storage of short-chain monounsaturated fatty acids in the tissues with decreased linoleic acid content and trans fatty acids stored in retroperitoneal fat. Thus, L-carnitine supplementation attenuated the signs of metabolic syndrome through inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 activity, preferential β-oxidation of some fatty acids and increased storage of saturated fatty acids and relatively inert oleic acid in the tissues.

Graphical abstract: Modulation of tissue fatty acids by l-carnitine attenuates metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese rats

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 May 2015
Accepted
10 Jul 2015
First published
10 Jul 2015

Food Funct., 2015,6, 2496-2506

Modulation of tissue fatty acids by L-carnitine attenuates metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese rats

S. K. Panchal, H. Poudyal, L. C. Ward, J. Waanders and L. Brown, Food Funct., 2015, 6, 2496 DOI: 10.1039/C5FO00480B

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