Effects of Carnitine on Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Liver Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Chae Young Lim; Dae Won Jun; Sung Su Jang; Won Kyeung Cho; Jung Don Chae; Jin Hyun Jun

doi:10.4166/kjg.2010.55.6.384

Journal List > Korean J Gastroenterol > v.55(6) > 1006677

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Lim, Jun, Jang, Cho, Chae, and Jun: Effects of Carnitine on Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Liver Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Original Article

Korean J Gastroenterol 2010;55(6):384-389.

Published online: 21 February 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2010.55.6.384

Effects of Carnitine on Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Liver Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Chae Young Lim, M.D.^∗, Dae Won Jun, M.D.^∗,^‡,, Sung Su Jang, M.S.^§, Won Kyeung Cho, M.S.^∗,^‡, Jung Don Chae, M.D.^†, Jin Hyun Jun, Ph.D.^‡

^∗Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea

^†Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea

^‡Eulji Institute for Life Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea

^§Pharmaceutical Department College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence to: Dae Won Jun, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji General Hospital, 280-1, Hagye 1-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-711, Korea Tel: +82-2-970-8494, Fax: +82-2-972-0068 E-mail: noshin1004@yahoo.co.kr

Received 9 January 2010 Accepted 29 April 2010

Abstract

Background/Aims

Functional and anatomical abnormalities of mitochondria play an important role in developing steatohepatitis. Carnitine is essential for enhanced mitochondrial beta oxidation through the transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. We examined the impact of carnitine complex on liver function and peripheral blood mitochondria copy number in NAFLD patients.

Methods

Forty-five NAFLD patients were enrolled. Patients were categorized into the carnitine complex-administered group and control group. Before and 3 months after drug administration, a liver function test and peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA and 8-oxo-dG quantitive analysis were conducted.

Results

In carnitine treatment group, ALT, AST, and total bilirubin were reduced after medication. There was no difference in AST, ALT, and total bilirubin between before and after treatment in control group. In carnitine group, peripheral mitochondrial DNA copy number was significantly increased from 158.8±69.5 copy to 241.6±180.6 copy (p=0.025). While in control group the mitochondrial copy number was slightly reduced from 205.5±142.3 to 150.0±109.7. 8-oxo-dG level was also tended to decrease in carnitine group (p=0.23) and tended to increase in control group (p=0.07).

Conclusions

In NAFLD, the carnitine improved liver profile and peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number. This results suggest that carnitine activate the mitochondria, thereby contributing to the improvement of NAFLD.

Keywords: Nonalcholic fatty liver disease, Mitochondria, Carnitine

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Fig. 1.

Changes of liver chemistry between values at baseline and 3 month in the same group. Grey bar, before medication; Black bar, after medication. (A) Aspartic acid transaminase, (B) Alanine transaminase, (C) Bilirubin, (D) γ-GTP. ∗ p<0.05 by paired t-test.

Fig. 2.

Changes of mitochondrial DNA copy number before and after medication in both groups. Grey bar, before medication; Black bar, after medication. ∗ p＜0.05 by paired t-test.

Fig. 3.

Difference of 8-oxo-dG before and after medication in both groups.

Fig. 4.

Peripheral blood mitochondria DNA copy number between biopsy proven steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Table 1.

Baseline Characteristics of Subjects

	Control (n=16)	Carnitine group (n=29)	p-value^∗
Age (yr)	42.25±14.74	49.66±15.34	0.122
AST (IU/L)	43.06±18.48	51.10±26.97	0.295
ALT (IU/L)	50.69±19.08	60.00±49.20	0.375
T-Bil (mg/dL)	0.87±0.38	0.71±0.22	0.078
γ-GTP (mg/dL)	74.62±26.86	58.14±34.84	0.237
Albumin (g/dL)	4.51±0.31	4.62±0.36	0.152
FFA (mg/dL)	806.3±211.6	799.6±439.2	0.965
Bwt (kg)	74.88±11.62	72.95±12.60	0.638
mtDNA copy No.	205.5±72.1	158.8±69.5	0.145
8-oxo-dG (pg/mL)	1.37±0.32	1.35±0.34	0.823

AST, aspartic acid transaminase; ALT, alanine transaminase; Bwt, body weight; T-Bil, total bilirubin; FFA, free fatty acid; γ-GTP, r-glutamyltranspeptidase. mean± SD.

^∗ p＜0.05 by one way t-test.

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