The effect of L-carnitine in the prevention of ionizing radiation-induced cataracts: a rat model

Abstract

L-carnitine may protect against the damage produced by gamma radiation by increasing the activity of the SOD enzyme and by scavenging free radicals generated by ionizing radiation. As a result of this process, MDA as an indicator of lipid peroxidation may decrease.

Protective effect of L-carnitine in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity

“…Likewise, Kocer et al (29) studied the efficiency of LC on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in guinea pigs. In their study, TBARS levels in retinal tissue were found lower in the LC group than in the control group and mean retinal thickness was found to be increased in the control group when compared to the LC group.…”

L-carnitine has a protective effect on the colonic mucosa during abdominopelvic radiotherapy in rats

“…The body can endogenously synthesize about 10% of the L-carnitine it requires from lysine and methionine amino acids in the skeletal muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and brain; the remaining amount is generally obtained through diet 12,13 . Experimental models have demonstrated its radioprotective effects in the kidney, lens and cochlea, retina, brain, growing bone, testes, oral mucosa, small intestine and bone marrow [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] .…”

The Protective Effect of Curcumin on Ionizing Radiation-induced Cataractogenesis in Rats

“…Several studies have suggested that intake of antioxidant-rich foods may slow the progression of cataract. Therefore, to date, a number of antioxidant chemicals and drugs such as L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, lycopene, melatonin, resveratrol, α-lipoic acid, Ginkgo biloba, α-tocopherol, N-acetylcysteine, pyruvate and verapamil have been used to prevent experimental cataract in the lens (11,12,14,15,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). They were found to be effective in preventing cataract, but none have been implemented in clinical practice.…”

“…The lens includes defense mechanisms as in other tissues that may protect it from the effects of oxidation. A decrease in the antioxidant defenses increases lens oxidation and this could be responsible for the development of cataract (11,16,17).…”

“…L-carnitine, melatonin, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, estrogen, metalloporphyrin and verapamil protected irradiation-induced cataract development by virtue of their antioxidant properties (2,11,12,16,17,19,22,23,40,41). The investigators measured MDA and the antioxidant enzyme levels such as SOD, catalase, total antioxidant in the lens tissues and graded the lens opacification.…”