Korean J Gastroenterol.  2010 Jun;55(6):384-389. 10.4166/kjg.2010.55.6.384.

Effects of Carnitine on Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Liver Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea. noshin1004@yahoo.co.kr
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Eulji Institute for Life Sciences, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Pharmaceutical Department College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Functional and anatomical abnormalities of mitochondria play an important role in developing steatohepatitis. Carnitine is essential for enhanced mitochondrial beta oxidation through the transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. We examined the impact of carnitine complex on liver function and peripheral blood mitochondria copy number in NAFLD patients.
METHODS
Forty-five NAFLD patients were enrolled. Patients were categorized into the carnitine complex-administered group and control group. Before and 3 months after drug administration, a liver function test and peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA and 8-oxo-dG quantitive analysis were conducted.
RESULTS
In carnitine treatment group, ALT, AST, and total bilirubin were reduced after medication. There was no difference in AST, ALT, and total bilirubin between before and after treatment in control group. In carnitine group, peripheral mitochondrial DNA copy number was significantly increased from 158.8+/-69.5 copy to 241.6+/-180.6 copy (p=0.025). While in control group the mitochondrial copy number was slightly reduced from 205.5+/-142.3 to 150.0+/-109.7. 8-oxo-dG level was also tended to decrease in carnitine group (p=0.23) and tended to increase in control group (p=0.07).
CONCLUSIONS
In NAFLD, the carnitine improved liver profile and peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number. This results suggest that carnitine activate the mitochondria, thereby contributing to the improvement of NAFLD.

Keyword

Nonalcholic fatty liver disease; Mitochondria; Carnitine

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Alanine Transaminase/blood
Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood
Bilirubin/blood
Carnitine/*therapeutic use
DNA Copy Number Variations/*drug effects
DNA, Mitochondrial/*blood
Deoxyguanosine/analogs &derivatives/analysis
Fatty Liver/diagnosis/*drug therapy/genetics
Female
Humans
Liver Function Tests
Male
Middle Aged

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Changes of liver chemistry between values at baseline and 3 month in the same group. Grey bar, before medication; Black bar, after medication. (A) Aspartic acid transaminase, (B) Alanine transaminase, (C) Bilirubin, (D) γ-GTP. ∗ p<0.05 by paired t-test.

  • Fig. 2. Changes of mitochondrial DNA copy number before and after medication in both groups. Grey bar, before medication; Black bar, after medication. ∗ p<0.05 by paired t-test.

  • Fig. 3. Difference of 8-oxo-dG before and after medication in both groups.

  • Fig. 4. Peripheral blood mitochondria DNA copy number between biopsy proven steatosis and steatohepatitis.


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