Carnitine improves lipid anomalies in haemodialysis patients

51 chronic haemodialysis patients with hypertriglyceridaemia were given a daily oral dose of 2.4 g D,L-carnitine for 30 days to investigate a possible hypolipaemic effect. After 30 days' D,L-carnitine treatment the mean (+/- SEM) serum triglyceride concentration had decreased significantly from 3.50 +/- 0.39 to 2.87 +/- 0.27 mmol/l. Serum total cholesterol did not change. However, HDL cholesterol increased significantly from 0.89 +/- 0.05 to 1.35 +/- 0.07 mmol/l. This decrease in serum triglycerides and return of HDL cholesterol to normal levels in haemodialysis patients may be the result of correction of carnitine deficiency. Such treatment could reduce the risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary-artery disease in uraemic patients.