A Pilot Study on the Effects of l-Carnitine and Trimethylamine-N-Oxide on Platelet Mitochondrial DNA Methylation and CVD Biomarkers in Aged Women

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Arkadiusz Szarmach¹  RobertA. Olek²  PawelJ. Winklewski³  AngelikaK. Sawicka⁴  Rosita Gabbianelli⁵  Laura Bordoni⁵ 

[1] 2nd Department of Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznan, Poland;Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;Doctoral School for Physical Culture Sciences, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland;School of Pharmacy, Unit of Molecular Biology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;

关键词: mtdna methylation;    tmao;    d-loop;    cvd;    l-carnitine;    nutrigenomics;    biomarker;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms21031047

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

l-carnitine supplementation has been used for cardiovascular health protection for a long time. Recently, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which is an end product of l-carnitine metabolism via the activity of microbiota, has been identified as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarker. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 6 months of l-carnitine supplementation in a group of aged women engaged in a regular physical training. Platelet mitochondrial DNA methylation, an emerging and innovative biomarker, lipid profile and TMAO levels have been measured. TMAO increased after l-carnitine supplementation (before 344.3 ± 129.8 ng/mL vs. after 2216.8 ± 1869.0 ng/mL; n = 9; paired t-test, p = 0.02). No significant effects on TMAO were exerted by training alone (n = 9) or by l-leucine supplementation (n = 12). TMAO levels after 6 months of l-carnitine supplementation were associated with higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) (Spearman Rho = 0.518, p = 0.003) and total cholesterol (TC) (Spearman Rho = 0.407, p = 0.026) levels. l-carnitine supplementation increased D-loop methylation in platelets (+6.63%; paired t-test, p = 0.005). D-loop methylation was not directly correlated to the TMAO augmentation observed in the supplemented group, but its increase inversely correlated with TC (Pearson coefficient = −0.529, p = 0.029) and LDL-c (Pearson coefficient = −0.439, p = 0.048). This evidence supports the hypothesis that the correlation between l-carnitine, TMAO and atherosclerosis might be more complex than already postulated, and the alteration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation in platelets could be involved in the pathogenesis of this multifactorial disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown