Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Probably L-Carnitine can induce increasing of Pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, decreasing of lactic acid production and performance improvements due to the reinforcement of long chain fatty acid oxidation and stabilize of Coenzyme A (CoASH) to free Coenzyme A (COA). Based on this, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute L-Carnitine supplementation on blood lactate, glucose, VO2max and anaerobic power in trained men.
Methods: Sixteen trained men (aged 19-23) volunteers from University of Guilan, facul-ty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences participated as subjects in this investiga-tion. Subjects divided to aerobic (A) and anaerobic (An) group randomly. In a double blind design, subjects participated in two separated tests by one week. Subjects ingested 3 grams of L-Carnitine supplementation or placebo (maltodextrin) 90 minute before aerobic and anaerobic exercise. For aerobic activity used shuttle run 20 meter and for anaerobic activity used RAST test. Blood samples were collected 5 minute prior at rest and 4 minute post tests. Participants were asked in the morning to obtain fasting blood samples and perform tests. A t-test was used to detect differences between supplementa-tion and placebo groups in each exercise.
Results: L-Carnitine group ((A) 141.25±20.62 and (An) 145.38±55.47) significantly had lower lactate concentration than placebo ((A) 151.00±20.85 and (An) 152.50±28.59) after tests (P≤0.05). L-Carnitine group ((A) 136.00±19.74 and (An) 115.50±13.64) had significa-ntly higher blood glucose compared to placebo ((A) 121.62±15.65 and (An) 110.12±12.63) too (P≤0.05). Also, VO2max, mean and maximum anaerobic power in L-Carnitine group were significantly more than ones in placebo (P<0.05).
Conclusion: These findings indicate that acute oral supplementation of L-Carnitine can induce fatigue decreasing and improvement of aerobic and anaerobic performance.