Effects of L-carnitine on oxidant/antioxidant status in acetic acid-induced colitis

Recently, the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis has been investigated. This study was designed to evaluate the possible beneficial effects of L-carnitine on tissue injury and oxidative stress in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Acetic acid administration induced severe damage macroscopically and histopathologically in colon and significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase in colonic tissue. Supplementation of L-carnitine to acetic acid-treated rats did not prove to induce any improvements in macroscopic scores, while L-carnitine administration improved histopathologic scores and significantly decreased malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels in treatment groups. Acetic acid administration significantly decreased reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels in colonic homogenate. Supplementation of L-carnitine prevented the depletion of reduced glutathione levels but significantly increased superoxide dismutase levels. On the other hand, no significant change in catalase activity was observed. In conclusion, these results may reflect that L-carnitine could be beneficial as a complementary agent in treatment of ulcerative colitis.