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

Food Funct. 2015 Aug;6(8):2496-506. doi: 10.1039/c5fo00480b. Epub 2015 Jul 20.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carnitine / administration & dosage*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / adverse effects
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / genetics
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / genetics
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / metabolism
  • Trans Fatty Acids / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Trans Fatty Acids
  • Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase
  • Carnitine