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Effects of l ‐carnitine on the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and carnitine palmitoyl transferase activities in muscle of endurance athletes
Author(s) -
Arenas Joaquín,
Huertas Rosa,
Campos Yolanda,
Díaz A.Enrique,
Villalón José María,
Vilas Esther
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(94)80246-7
Subject(s) - carnitine , pyruvate dehydrogenase complex , transferase , chemistry , endocrinology , carnitine o palmitoyltransferase , medicine , placebo , athletes , biochemistry , metabolism , enzyme , beta oxidation , physical therapy , alternative medicine , pathology
The effects of l ‐carnitine on the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex and carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) were studied in muscle of 16 long‐distance runners (LDR). These subjects received placebo or l ‐carnitine (2 g orally) during a 4‐week period of training. Athletes receiving l ‐carnitine showed a dramatic increase ( P < 0.001) in the PDH complex activities. By contrast, the levels of CPT, both 1 and 2, were unchanged. No significant changes were observed after placebo administration. We previously reported [Huertas R. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 188 (1992) 102‐107] that l ‐carnitine induces an increase in the activities of complexes I, III and IV of the respiratory chain in muscle of LDR. Taken together, our data suggest that the improvement in (maximal oxygen consumption) V O2max observed in LDR after l ‐carnitine administration is based on these biochemical findings.