CARNITINE PROLONGS THE HALF-LIFE OF ETHANOL IN BROILERS

The object was to determine if carnitine attenuated ethanol metabolism in broilers similar to that reported in the rats. Two groups (n = 5) of 5-week-old broilers were given for 10 days the feed with or without 0.5% L-carnitine supplement. A single oral dose of ethanol on day 8 w as followed by serial blood samples which were analysed for ethanol. A nother dose of ethanol was given on day 10 and 2 hr later, plasma and liver were collected and analysed for ethanol, total lipid, triglyceri des and carnitine. The carnitine supplemented diet prolonged the half- life of ethanol due to attenuation of ethanol metabolism which is simi lar to that reported earlier in rodents. The increases in plasma and h epatic acylcarnitines indicate that supplementary carnitine lessens th e load of free acyl groups in the liver by eventual oxidation or excre tion.