Carnitine acts as a buffer of acetyl-CoA units in the mitochondria, as well as facilitating transport of fatty acids, and carnitine levels are decreased in the diabetic heart. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of L-Carnitine supplementation on cardiac function and metabolism in the diabetic rat heart. We show that daily injections of L-Carnitine can alter cardiac metabolism in the in vivo diabetic rat heart, and can increase flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase. Such studies will allow a better understanding of the interactions between metabolism and function in the diabetic heart and may provide new insight into novel therapeutics.
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