The effects of L-carnitine on left ventricular function and erythrocyte super oxide dismutase activity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

We studied the effects of L-carnitine on left ventricular systolic function and the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in 51 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. They all previously were under the treatment of angiotensin convening enzyme inhibitor, digitalis and diuretics. Patients were randomized into two groups. In group I (n=31) 2 g/day L-Carnitine were added to therapy and L-Carnitine were not given to other 20 of the patients (Group II). In group I (mean age 64.3±7.8 years), 27 of the patients were men, and 4 were women. In group II (mean age 66,2±8,7 years), 17 of the patients were men, and 3 were women. Twenty age matched healthy subjects (mean age: 60.1±5.3 years) constituted the control group. In each group left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiography, red cell superoxide dismutase activity by specthrophotometric method were measured initially and after a month of randomization. Compared with normal healthy subjects (n=20), patients (n=51) had significantly higher red cell SOD activity (5633±1225 U/g-Hb vs. 3202±373, p