Carnitine supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine formation in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Carnitine supplementation improved insulin sensitivity and tended to lower IHL and fasting plasma glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, carnitine supplementation increased acetylcarnitine concentration in muscle, which may underlie the beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D
- Participants
- 32 patients
- Comparison
- After vs before 12-week L-carnitine supplementation
- Outcome
- Insulin sensitivity (two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp)
- Follow-up
- 12 weeks
Methodological detailsbefore-after comparison
- Before-after comparison
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- After vs Before: P = 0.020
- After vs Before: P = 0.005
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine at rest (1H-MRS) · 12 weeks | P = 0.008 |
| Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine post-exercise (1H-MRS) · 12 weeks | P < 0.001 |
| Plasma glucose · 12 weeksTended to be reduced after supplementation | P = 0.083 |
| Intrahepatic lipid content (1H-MRS) · 12 weeksTended to be reduced after supplementation | P = 0.098 |
- Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine at rest (1H-MRS): 1.18 ± 0.13 vs. 1.54 ± 0.17 mmol/kgww; elevated after supplementation
- Skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine post-exercise (1H-MRS): 3.70 ± 0.22 vs. 4.53 ± 0.30 mmol/kgww; elevated after supplementation
Compliance
- Increased plasma-free carnitine levels
- P < 0.01
- Pill count
- 97.1 ± 0.7%
Original publication
Carnitine supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle acetylcarnitine formation in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 28 February 2025. doi:10.
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