Supplementation Helps Replenish L-carnitine in Aging Muscles
Supplementation with L-carnitine may restore natural losses of the
nutrient in muscles that occur naturally with age, according to
researchers at the Universite de Bourgogne in Dijon, France.
In their study, researchers stated: "In mammals, during the aging
process, an atrophy of the muscle fibers, an increase in body fat mass
and a decrease in skeletal muscle oxidative capacities occur. Compounds
and activities that interact with lipid oxidative metabolism may be
useful in limiting damages that occur in aging muscle. In this study,
we evaluated the effect of L-carnitine and physical exercise on several
parameters related to muscle physiology."
They reported that supplementation with L-carnitine led to increases
in the levels of L-carnitine in rat muscle cells, as well as improving
muscle capabilities in the old animals. L-Carnitine, a vitamin-like
nutrient, occurs naturally in the human body and is essential for
turning fat into energy. It is frequently used as a dietary supplement
by physically active people to help with post-exercise recovery.
In the study, the L-carnitine levels in the muscles of elderly rats
were found to be 34% lower than in young rats. Old rats were fed a
control diet and supplemented with L-carnitine (30 mg/kg body weight)
for 12 weeks. Researchers report that this led to a restoration of
L-carnitine levels in muscle cells. Furthermore, a 55% improvement in
the oxidative capacity in the muscles of the old rats was recorded by
the researchers. Normal age-related increases in body weight appeared
to be limited by L-carnitine supplementation. This was suggested to be
a result of the limiting of fat gain by increasing fatty acid
oxidation. Researchers also said: "Moderate physical exercise was also
effective in limiting fat mass gain and inducing an increase in the
capacities of the soleus to oxidize fatty acids."
The Journals of Gerontology Series A 63:1027-1033, 2008
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