Lカルニチンと悪液質：動物実験

Lカルニチン投与は悪液質の改善に有効というラットでの動物実験を紹介します。

Busquets S, Serpe R, Toledo M, Betancourt A, Marmonti E, Orpí M, Pin F, Capdevila E, Madeddu C, López-Soriano FJ, Mantovani G, Macciò A, Argilés JM. l-Carnitine: An adequate supplement for a multi-targeted anti-wasting therapy in cancer. Clin Nutr. 2012 May 18. [Epub ahead of print]

悪液質のラットにLカルニチンを1g/kg投与したところ、食事摂取量、筋肉量に改善を認めました。これらの効果は直接、身体機能の改善につながっていました。

動物実験ですので、このままヒトに適応することはできませんが、悪液質に対する包括的治療の1つとして、Lカルニチンを検討してもよいかもしれません。

Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Tumour growth is associated with weight loss resulting from both adipose and muscle wasting.

METHODS: Administration of l-carnitine (1 g/kg body weight) to rats bearing the AH-130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma, a highly cachectic rat tumour.

RESULTS: The treatment results in a significant improvement of food intake and in muscle weight (gastrocnemius, EDL and soleus). These beneficial effects are directly related to improved physical performance (total physical activity, mean movement velocity and total travelled distance). Administration of l-carnitine decreases proteasome activity and the expression of genes related with this activity, such as ubiquitin, C8 proteasome subunit and MuRF-1. Interestingly, l-carnitine treatment also decreases caspase-3 mRNA content therefore suggesting a modulation of apoptosis. Moreover, addition of 50 μM of l-carnitine to isolated EDL muscles results in a significant decrease in the proteolytic rate suggesting a direct effect.

CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that l-carnitine supplementation may be a good approach for a multi-targeted therapy for the treatment of cancer-related cachexia.