• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.207-210
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• 2003

Lipids play many structural and metabolic roles, and dietary fat has great impact on metabolism and health. Fatty acid oxidation rate is dependent on tissue types. However there has been no report on the relationship between the rate of fatty acid oxidation and carnitine transport system in outer mitochondrial membrane of many tissues. In this study, the rate of fatty acid oxidation and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I activity in the carnitine transport system were measured to understand the metabolic characteristics of fatty acid in various tissues. Palmitic acid oxidation rate and CPT I activity in various tissues were measured. Tissues were obtained from the white and red skeletal muscles, heart, liver, kidney and brain of rats. The highest lipid oxidation rate was demonstrated in the cardiac muscle, and the lowest oxidation rate was in brain. Red gastrocnemius muscle followed to the cardiac muscle. Lipid oxidation rates of kidney, white gastrocnemius muscle and liver were similar, ranging from 101 to 126 DPM/mg/hr. CPT I activity in the cardiac muscle was the highest, red gastrocnemius muscle followed by liver. Brain tissue showed the lowest CPT I activity as well as lipid oxidation rate, although the values were not significantly different from those of kidney and white gastrocnemius muscle. Therefore, lipid oxidation rate was highly (p＜0.001) related to CPT I activity. Lipid oxidation rate is variable, depending on tissue types, and is highly (p＜0.001) related to CPT I activity. CPT I activity may be a good marker to indicate lipid oxidation capacity in various tissues.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate effects of the experimental mixture containing soybean peptides, L-carnitine and Garcinia Cambogia extract on body weight and lipid metabolism in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) of eight weeks old were raised for four weeks with high fat diet (40% fat as calorie) to induce obesity. After induction of obesity, rats were feed control (C) diet, containing either 0.16% (+1D), 1.6% (+10D), 8% (+50D) of experimental mixture for eight weeks. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total protein and albumin concentration were not different among groups. The Body weight gain was significantly lower in experimental mixture diet group compared to control group. Weights of perirenal fat pad and epididymal fat pad in the +50D group were significantly lower than those in the +1D and +10D groups. Plasma total lipid and liver total cholesterol levels in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Fecal total lipid and total cholesterol excretions were highest in +50D group. These results suggest that the experimental mixture containing peptides, L-carnitine and Garsinia Canbogia extract is effective for reducing the body weight and adipose tissue weight which may be due to the modulation of lipid metabolism and the increased fecal excretion of lipid.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of L-carnitine (LC) and nicotinic acid (NA) on sperm viability during liquid storage at $18^{\circ}C$ in miniature pigs. $10{\mu}M$ LC and 30 mM NA, combined LC and NA (LN) were treated in fresh semen for 3, 7, and 10 days. In results, sperm survival increased in NA- and LN-treated semen on 7 and 10 days (p<0.05), mitochondrial integrity of live sperm increased in LN-treated semen on 7 days (p<0.05), but not NA-treated semen. In addition, we examined the acrosome reaction of sperm in miniature pigs. LC and NA did not influence on acrosome reaction of boar sperm. In conclusion, LC and NA effectively maintained the viability and quality of sperm during long-term storage in miniature pigs, suggesting that the combined LN may be useful for improving the semen extender for long-term liquid storage in pigs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-obesity effects of grape seed extract (GSE) supplement in C57BL/6J mice. Thirty mice were divided into three groups; normal diet control group (ND), high fat diet control group (HD) and high fat diet plus grape seed extract supplemented group (HD+GSE). Results were as follows: 1. GSE supplement reduced the weight gain in mice fed high fat diets; epididymal and back fat weights, were lower compared to non-supplemented HD group. 2. Blood lipid concentrations were lower in the HD+GSE group than in the HD group. Serum HDL-C concentrations were higher in the HD+GSE group compared with the other groups. 3. The concentrations of acid-insoluble acylcarnitines, (AIAC) in serum and liver were higher in the HD+GSE group than in the HD group. 4. GSE supplementation increased mRNA levels of lipolytic genes such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-l (CPT-1) and decreased mRNA levels of lipogenic genes such as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC). These findings suggest that grape seed extract supplements in high fat diet might normalize body weight, epididymal and back fat weights, lipid concentrations, and carnitine levels through controlling lipid metabolism.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2021

Objective: Amino acids can protect sperm structure in cryopreservation due to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, and human sperm intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) during vitrification. Methods: Twenty normal human sperm samples were examined. Each sample was divided into six equal groups: LC (1 and 10 mM), NAC (5 and 10 mM), and cryopreserved and fresh control groups. Results: The groups treated with LC and NAC showed favorable findings in terms of motility parameters, DNA damage, and MMP. Significantly higher levels of intracellular ROS were observed in all cryopreserved groups than in the fresh group (p≤0.05). The presence of LC and NAC at both concentrations caused an increase in PMI, MMP, and progressive motility parameters, as well as a significant reduction in intracellular ROS compared to the control group (p≤0.05). The concentrations of the amino acids did not show any significant effect. Conclusion: LC and NAC are promising as potential additives in sperm cryopreservation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

Long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAOD) are an autosomal recessive inherited rare disease group that result in an acute metabolic crisis and chronic energy deficiency owing to the deficiency in an enzyme that converts long-chain fatty acids into energy. LC-FAOD includes carnitine palmitoyltransferase type 1 (CPT1), carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT), carnitine palmitoyltransferase type 2 (CPT2), very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD), and trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiencies. Common symptoms of LC-FAOD are hypoketotic hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, and myopathy. Depending on symptom onset, the disease can be divided as neonatal period, late infancy and early childhood, adolescence, or adult onset, but symptoms can appear at any time. The neonatal screening test (NBS) can be used to identify the characteristic plasma acylcarnitine profiles for each disease and confirmed by deficient enzyme analysis or molecular testing. Before introduction of NBS, the mortality rate of LC-FAOD was very high. With NBS implementation as routine neonatal care, the mortality rate was dramatically decreased, but severe symptoms such as rhabdomyolysis recur frequently and affect the quality of life. Triheptanoin (Dojolvi^®), the first drug for pediatric and adult patients with molecularly confirmed LC-FAOD, has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2020. In this review, the diagnosis of LC-FAOD and treatment including triheptanoin are summarized.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of age on the contents of carnitine, free amino acid, and nucleotide-related compound in Holstein calf meat. Twenty calves were allocated into four age groups (3, 6, 9, or 12 mon of age; n=5/group), and ribeye (M. longissimus dorsi) and top round (M. semimembranosus) were excised from left side of each carcass on day 1 post-mortem. Carnitine contents for ribeye and top round were 0.79~1.16 and 0.65~1.26 mg/100 g, respectively, and those showed a tendency to be the highest in 3 mon group. The contents of majority of free amino acids were the highest (p<0.05) in ribeye and top round from 12 mon group. The contents of adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate, and inosine were the highest (p<0.05) in ribeye and top round from 12 mon group, but hypoxanthine content was the lowest (p<0.05) in those from 12 mon group. These findings suggest that age decreases the carnitine content but increases free amino acid and good taste-related nucleotides contents in Holstein calf meat.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.237-252
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• 2011

In this study, four different oils containing either CLA, GLA, GLA+Carnitine or corn oil (control) were supplemented to finishing pigs (average 70.8 kg initial BW) diet for 28 d of feeding period. To evaluate the values of the dietary fatty acids, especially in view of sensory and nutritional characteristics of pork; pig performances, carcass characteristics, serum cholesterol, neutrophil phagocytosis, TBARS, electronic nose flavor and fatty acids profile of pork were measured. There were no differences in daily gain and nutrients digestion among treatments, but daily feed intake of CLA enriched diet was lower (P<0.05) than that of other diets. There were no differences in backfat thickness, dressing percentage and carcass grade among pigs fed diets supplemented with different oils. Serum total cholesterol showed a tendency to be lowered in pigs fed GLA enriched diet. TBARS values during storage of pork were higher in belly from pigs fed control diet whereas the values of belly from pigs fed GLA+Carnitine diet were lower than others. However, difference in TBARS was not remarkable in adipose tissue and 4 weeks extended storage regardless of pork parts. Proportion of saturated fatty acids such as C16:0 and C18:0 were higher (P<0.05) in pork loin and thin skirt from pigs fed CLA enriched diet compared to those from other diets. There were no differences in fatty acids profiles of belly and adipose tissue. CLA accumulation in pork was increased by the dietary CLA supplementation and this could be also confirmed by a slight de novo synthesis of CLA in pork from pigs fed CLA free diets. GLA was selectively accumulated to pork adipose tissue and loin from pigs fed GLA enriched diets. There was no accumulation of GLA when GLA was not supplemented, indicating no de novo synthesis of GLA. Phagocytic activity was the highest (p<0.05) in neutrophil of pigs fed GLA+Carnitine supplemented diet, then, followed by pigs fed GLA supplemented diet. There was no difference in phagocytosis between control and CLA treatment although the phagocytosis was numerically lowest in pig fed CLA enriched diet. There were distinct differences in electronic nose flavor pattern among treatments regardless of the parts. This study showed that dietary supplementation of functional fatty acids like CLA or GLA was able to result in characteristic differences in feed intake, TBARS, fatty acids profile and flavor of pork, serum cholesterol regulation and neutrophil phagocytosis.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.179-189
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• 2006

Objective: We investigated the efficacy of a 12-week supplementation of soy isoflavone with L-carnitine on the development of obesity in high fat-induced obese C57BL/6J mice, which are known as a good model of diet-induced obesity. Methods: We measured body weights, adipose tissue mass, serum/liver lipid profiles and fat cell size/number in C57BL/6J mice fed diets containing either low fat (4%) or high fat (35%), or high fat supplemented with soy isoflavone powder containing 10% isoflavone and L-camitine for 12 weeks. Results: Body weight gain, abdominal adipose tissue and liver weight were lower by 31% 78% and 31.4% respectively, in mice on high fat diet containing soy isoflavone+L-carnitine (SC mixture) compared with high fat diet group. Also, SC mixture improved serum lipid profiles such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and liver lipid profiles such as total lipids and TG. As subsequent results, this SC mixture prevented high-fat diet from accumulating TG in the liver. The size of fat cell was also significantly decreased in SC mixture fed mice. At the end point of this experiment, our results showed that feeding with soy isoflavone for 12 weeks finally increased camitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT 1) activity through elevating the level of CPT1 expression. Conclusions: This study suggests that long-tenn supplementation with dietary soy isoflavone and L-carnitine is more synergistically beneficial for the suppression of high-fat diet induced obesity by inhibiting liver TG accumulation and the gain in abdominal adipose tissue weight than that with soy isoflavone. The antiobesity effects of SC mixture might be attributed, at least in part, to the induction of fatty acid catabolism by soy isoflavone, genistein.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2003

Carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide have been known to be anti-obesity agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide mixture as a potential anti-obesity supplement in overweight women. Overweight premenopausal women (n=33; PIBW>110; 20 to 39 years) were randomized into two groups: the placebo group and the functional beverage group (the test group). Functional beverage was composed of 2000 mg soy peptide, 20 mg L-carnitine and 300 mg garcinia(40% hydroxycitric acid). Body weight and 3 day food dimes, biochemical measurements and computerized tomography were measured at baseline and 8-week. After 8-week consumption of functional beverage with usual diet and exercise, body weight fell an average of 1.4 kg (2.1%). Visceral fat area reduced an average of 7.8% at L1($69.6{\pm}8.7\;vs\;64.2{\pm}7.5\;\textrm{cm}^2$) and 5.1% ($60.7{\pm}4.9\;vs\;57.6{\pm}4.8\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) at L4level after weight loss in the test group. Calf fat area in the test group showed about 10% reduction ($31.0{\pm}2.7\;vs=\;27.7{\pm}1.7\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) after weight loss. These reductions in fat areas were not shown in the placebo group. There were tendencies of increase in serum levels of $\beta-hydroxybutyrate$, acetoacetate, and total ketones in the test group. There were 7% and 17% insignificant increase in fasting free fatty acid (FFA) and response area of FFA during oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT), respectively, in this group. ill addition, little weight loss in the test group showed 8% but not significant reduction in insulin response area during OGTT. In conclusion, this study shows that taking a mixture of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide as a potential anti-obesity supplement for 8-week produced advantageous changes in the weight and visceral fat accumulation of overweight women.