The Effect of L-Carnitine Intake Before Acute Aerobic Exercise on Blood Lipids

Purpose: There are many studies stating that L-carnitine supplementation is of great importance on lipid metabolism. This study aimed to determine the effects of single dose L-carnitine supplementation before acute aerobic exercise on blood lipids. Method: 8 male students from Kastamonu University (age 19.75 ± 1.83 years, height 174.00 ± 7.80 cm and body mass 67.62 ± 11.08 kg) voluntarily participated in this study. After demographic measurements, subjects started 20 m shuttle run test following a 10-minute warm up. Immediately after the acute maximal aerobic exercise blood samples taken from antecubital veins of the subjects were whizzed and sent to Kastamonu State Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory for blood lipid analysis. 4 min after the blood samples were taken, lactate levels of the subjects were determined with Lactate Scout. 1 week after the first measurement subjects were supplemented with 2 gr L-Carnitine and after 2 hours 20 m shuttle run, measurements for blood lipids and lactate were repeated. Statistics were carried out by using SPSS 22. Wilcoxon Singed Rank test was used with a significant level set at p<0.05. Conclusion: According to results of this study, LDL, VLDL and TG levels decreased significantly (p<0.05). Increase in HDL level and decrease in total cholesterol and lactate levels were determined as statistically unimportant changes