Carnitine for Body Composition in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Authors and colleagues have continued clinical research for hemodialysis patients. Currently, a pilot study presents intervention of carnitine for changes of the body composition. Subjects and Methods: Subjects were six patients on hemodialysis with intervention of carnitine (group 1). Average data were 74.3 years, 65.4 kg, 22.6 in BMI. As levocarnitine, L-Cartin FF injection 1000 mg was administered three times a week for six months. Group 2 has six control patients for age-, sex-, body weight, BMI-matched (group 2). Body composition of muscle and fat tissues were measured by InBody 770 on 0 and 6 months. Results: In group 1, muscle volume and skeletal muscle showed increasing tendency without statistical significance. In contrast, there were significant decreases of body fat volume (22.3 kg vs 20.5 kg, 39.0% vs 35.8%) (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in hemoglobin, total protein, albumin and Cardio-Thoracic Ratio (CTR) of chest X-ray. Group 2 showed no significant changes. Discussion and Conclusion: Hemodialysis patients often have muscular reduction. Previous reports showed improved lean body mass by carnitine administration, which may support our result. These results from current pilot study would be expected to become useful reference data in the pathophysiological investigation in patients on hemodialysis.

Perspectives Concerning the Influence of Protein Intake for Renal Function in Diabetic Nephropathy

“…There are controversies concerning this policy [2]. The authors have continued medical practice and research for patients with diabetes [3], CKD, dialysis [4], and ASCVD [5], associated with a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) [6].…”

The Administration of Xultophy for Diabetic Patients on Hemodialysis

“…Furthermore, for CKD and hemodialysis, we reported several studies concerning nerve conduction velocity (NCV), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), carnitine, and others for patients with chronic renal failure and hemodialysis [13,14,15]. Through our clinical practice, there was a case with beneficial efficacy with the treatment of Xultophy [16].…”

Various roles of renal rehabilitation including prevention and improvement of renal function, cardiovascular disease, flail and life prognosis

“…8 Furthermore, we have presented reports on chronic renal disease and hemodialysis. 9,10 Renal rehabilitation is characterized by its mutually connected rehabilitation, including pathophysiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, neurology, immunology, metabolism and so on. As regard to renal rehabilitation, the guideline has been proposed.…”