Comparison the Protective effects of L- carnitine and L-Arginine on Blood Glucose and Lipid Peroxidation in Diabetic Rats

Objectives:The present study was initiated to compare the effect of L-carnitine and Nitric oxide precursor (L-Arginine) on serum hepatic enzymes, serum lipids, and tissue lipid peroxidationinAlloxan induced diabetic rats.Materials Methods:50 adult male Wistarratswere used in this study. There are 10 rats in each group. Group(1) includes non-diabetic, used as a control; group(2) untreated diabetic, used as a negative control; group (3) diabetic rats treated with L-Carnitine 300 mg/kg; group (4) diabetic rats treated with L-Arginine200 mg/kg; and group (5) diabetic rats treated with L-Carnitine plus L-Arginine.Ratswere made diabetic by alloxan (120 mg/kg, i.p.). Control and negative control groups received distilled water for 30 days. Serum glucose, lipoproteins, liver enzymes andmalondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver and brain tissues were assayedand compared with one-way ANOVA and Tukey statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at P 0.05.Results Conclusion: L-Carnitine significantly decreased blood glucose, liver enzymes and hepatic MDA concentrations in diabetic rats (P 0.05), but did not affect tissue lipid peroxidation in the brain. Levels in the L-Carnitine-treated rats showed a significant decrease compared with anuntreated diabetic group (P 0.001). L-Arginine administration significantly decreased serum LDL, levels without any significant effect on other biochemical parameters. L-Arginine supplementation significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels in liver and brain. L-Carnitine is more effective as compared to L-Arginine reducing diabetic complications. It seems that inability of L-Carnitine in reducing brain malondialdehyde is due to the lack of permeability. The interaction between the two nutrients may be synergistic.