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- Title
Effects of Combined Treatment with Simvastatin and L-Carnitine on Triglyceride Levels in Diabetic Patients with Hyperlipidaemia.
- Authors
Brescia, F.; Balestra, E.; Iasella, M.G.; Damato, A.B.
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of L-carnitine, coadministered with simvastatin, on hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia in patients with diabetes. Design: Randomised, open, parallel-group study. Setting: One investigational centre (hospital). Patients: Thirty-two patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia (total cholesterol levels > 200 mg/dl and triglyceride levels >150 mg/dl). Interventions: Patients were randomised to receive simvastatin alone (n = 16) or simvastatin plus L-carnitine (n = 16) for 60 days. Both treatments were given orally. Simvastatin was administered, in both groups, at a dosage of 20 mg/day, while L-carnitine was administered at a dosage of 2000 mg/day twice daily. Main outcome measures and results: Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 30 and 60 days after starting treatment. In both groups, there was a progressive improvement in all measured parameters during the study period. However, triglyceride levels decreased to a significantly greater extent in patients co-treated with L-carnitine (from 266.8 mg/dl at baseline to 153.8 mg/dl at 60 days) compared with those receiving simvastatin alone (from 300.2 to 227.8 mg/dl, respectively; p = 0.012 vs combined treatment). HDL-cholesterol levels increased from 49.8 mg/dl at baseline to 51.8 mg/dl at 60 days in the combined treatment group, and decreased from 51.2 to 47.8 mg/dl, respectively in simvastatin recipients, with a trend in favour of the combined treatment (p = 0.076), while no significant differences between groups were observed for total cholesterol levels. Conclusions: Combined treatment with L-carnitine and simvastatin resulted in greater antihyperlipidaemic effects (i.e. a less atherogenic plasma lipid profile) than with simvastatin alone. The results of this preliminary study strongly suggest that L-carnitine may have a role among antihyperlipidaemic strategies.
- Subjects
CARNITINE; HYPERCHOLESTEREMIA; HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA; DIABETES
- Publication
Clinical Drug Investigation, 2002, Vol 22, Issue 1, p23
- ISSN
1173-2563
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2165/00044011-200222001-00004