VARIATION IN LEVELS OF GLYCEMIA AND INSULIN AFTER INFUSION OF GLUCOSE SOLUTIONS WITH OR WITHOUT ADDED L-CARNITINE

The effect of L-carnitine on glucose and insulin plasma levels was evaluated in 47 healthy volunteers who were administered a 10% glucose solution infusion over 3h. The experiment was carried out following a cross-over procedure: each patient received two 750 cc 10% glucose solution infusions, a week apart; to one of these infusions 6 g L-carnitine had been added. The glucose infusion significantly increased the plasma glucose concentration of both groups, however, analysis of variance demonstrated that the increase in Group B was inferior (p < 0.01). insulin plasma levels increased rapidly after the beginning of the glucose infusion in both groups. From T90 to T180, when the maximum hypoglycaemic effect of L-carnitine was observed, this increase was lower in Group B than in Group A, The authors conclude that L-carnitine is capable of reducing the increase in plasma glucose concentration induced by a glucose solution infusion in healthy subjects. This effect does not seem to be related to an insulin-dependent mechanism.