Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum L-carnitine lev
els and its effect on lipoproteins in chronic viral hepatitis B or C patien
ts.
Design and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 41 patients and 30 health
y subjects after 12 h fasting.
Results: Patients' serum L-carnitine levels (11.19 +/- 6.67 mg/L) (p < 0.00
01) and hepatic enzyme activities (AST and ALT) (49.02 +/- 42.80 and 58.35
+/- 57.51 U/L) (p < 0.0005) were significantly higher than controls'. Serum
total (3.85 +/- 0.82 mmol/L), LDL (2.08 +/- 0.76 mmol/L) and HDL (1.02 +/-
0.29 mmol/L) cholesterol levels were significantly lower in patients (p <
0.01). On the other hand triglyceride levels (1.65 +/- 0.85 mmol/L) were si
gnificantly higher in patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The higher L-carnitine levels of patients may result from the
leakage of hepatic cellular carnitine. If there is a decreased hepatic cell
ular carnitine levels, this may affect the transport of acetyl moiety for c
holesterol synthesis and alter lipoprotein composition. Further investigati
on is needed for hepatic tissue L-carnitine levels. (C) 2001 The Canadian S
ociety of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.