Summary
L-carnitine blood levels are reduced after coronary artery bypass surgery. Therefore, a Brazilian trial aimed to verify whether L-carnitine supplementation could be beneficial in the recovery of L-carnitine levels in heart failure patients submitted to bypass surgery. The participants were divided into a supplementation group, administered with an oral dose of 50 mg/kg L-carnitine daily, or a placebo group. Supplementation was started on the third day after surgery and ended after 60 days. L-carnitine levels were measured before the surgery, and 2, 10, 30, and 60 days after surgery. 2 days after surgery, L-carnitine levels were decreased in both groups. Subsequently, the results showed that oral supplementation of L-carnitine in these patients induces recovery of L-carnitine levels within 10 days, leading to reduced oxidative stress levels, a restored energy supply, and improved heart function. More details can be found in the study.
References
Souza Cruz et al.