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Effects of L-carnitine associated with branched-chain amino acids in response to insulin: differences in insulinotropic action in normal healthy subjects
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Yoichi Sakurai, Hideyuki Namba, Satoshi Odo
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Received April 26, 2021 Accepted September 27, 2021 Published online March 5, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15747/ACNM.25.002
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Abstract
- Purpose
The present study uses healthy human volunteers to examine the insulinotropic action of L-carnitine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) after energy intake.
Methods A total of 39 young, healthy human volunteers were assigned to receive oral doses of either L-carnitine alone (L group, n=10) or L-carnitine combined with a single or long-term continuous dose of BCAAs. Controls (C group, n=16) received none of these. L-carnitine was administered orally at 1,000 mg/d for 14 days, and BCAA was administered orally either once just before exercise (L+SB group, n=6), or every day for 14 days (L+CB group, n=7) until 2 days before the experiment. After overnight fasting, 200 kcal of glucose and oral nutritional supplement were administered to prevent hypoglycemia. Blood glucose, free-fatty acid, and serum insulin levels were measured to examine the insulinotropic action before and after exercise.
Results Blood glucose and serum insulin levels in the L group were significantly lower than those in the C group. While the serum insulin levels were higher after energy administration than those in the fasting state in all groups, these were significantly higher in the L+SB group and in the L+CB group compared with those in the L group. The insulinotropic action after energy intake remained even after the repeated administration of BCAA discontinued 2 days before the experiment and even after serum BCAA levels remained the same.
Conclusion While the insulinotropic action appeared after a single dose of BCAA, it was also potentiated by long-term repeated oral administration of BCAA.
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