Changes of lipid concentrations in liver and serum by administration of carnitine added diets in rats.

Carnitine [4,-(N,N,N-trimethyl-ammonio)-3-hydroxybutanoate] was added to the diet to study its effect on lipid concentrations in liver and serum of rats. In rats administered with a high-fat diet containing 30% corn oil, simultaneous administration of carnitine reduced the concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol in both liver and serum. The addition of carnitine to a high-cholesterol diet decreased the levels of cholesterol and lipids in serum, but the cholesterol level to remain higher than control level. The present findings suggested that addition of carnitine may improve the lipid metabolism in obesity.