Carnitine and/or GABA Supplementation Increases Immune Function and Changes Lipid Profiles and Some Lipid Soluble Vitamins in Mice Chronically Administered Alcohol

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of carnitine and/or GABA supplementation on immune function, lipid profiles and some vitamins in mice chronically administered alcohol. BALB/c mice were fed with either AIN-76 diet (N), control diet plus alcohol (4 g/kg bw, E), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine (EC), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (EG), or E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (ECG) for 6 weeks. Administrations of the carnitine and/or GABA prevented alcohol-induced increases in triglyceride concentrations in serum and liver. However, there was no difference among the supplemented groups. Serum vitamin E concentration was higher in mice supplemented with EC and EG, but not in mice given ECG. Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was increased in EG group compared with E group. The subpopulations of murine splenocyte's T H cells were increased significantly in EC and ECG groups. These data suggest that immune function, lipid profiles and some immune-related lipid soluble vitamins were positively changed by supplementation of carnitine or GABA, but do not show any synergistic effect of mixed supplementation.