Wednesday Aug 6, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study recently published in Nutrition Journal shows that L-carnitine supplementation reduces oxidative stress and increases antioxidant enzyme activities in patients with coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease.

In the study, half of 47 patients with coronary artery disease received L-carnitine in a dose of 1000 mg per day for 12 weeks and the other half did not use the supplement.  Serum L-carnitine, malondialdehyde, activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxide were measured at baseline and the end of study.

L-carnitine supplementation reduced malondialdehyde levels and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, together indicating that the supplement can reduce oxidative stress in patients with coronary artery disease.

High oxidative stress is considered a contributor to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The finding suggests that patients with coronary artery disease should benefit from taking L-carnitine supplements.  (David Liu)

Lee BJ, Lin JS, Lin YC, Lin PT.  Effects of L-carnitine supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes activities in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.  Nutr J. 2014 Aug 4;13(1):79.