Study of aerobic capacity in chronic hemodialized patients: Effect of L-carnitine supplementation Estudio exploratorio de la capacidad aerobia en pacientes en hemodiálisis: Efecto de la suplementación con L-carnitina

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic hemodialyzed patients have a low level of aerobic capacity, caused by the pathologies concomitant to renal insufficiency, according with a low level of physical activity. One of the factors that would contribute to this level of aerobic capacity is the L-carnitine deficit on skeletal muscle. However, the value of the supplementation of L-carnitine to improve the physical fitness has been controversial. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the administration of L-carnitine on VO 2 max in hemodialyzed patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 21 patients (20-50 years old) on a program of chronic hemodialysis was studied. During 12 weeks, 13 of them received L-carnitine, 7 men and 6 women, 38.8 (9.5) years old; BMI 24.2 (2.1) Kg/m2; 8 of them received placebo, 4 men and 4 women, 35.8 (11.4) years old; BMI 24.5 (5.8) Kg/m2. RESULTS: There was an increase in VO2 peak on L-carnitine group from 16.3 (2.8) mL× Kg-1 × min-1 to 19.5 (3.3) mL