Publications (2)5.14 Total impact
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Article: Evidence for a positive association between serum carnitine and free testosterone levels in uremic men with hemodialysis.
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ABSTRACT: Background and Aims: Low free testosterone levels are associated with sexual dysfunction and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in male hemodialysis patients. Carnitine deficiency is frequently observed in hemodialysis patients as well. However, relationship between carnitine and testosterone levels remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether carnitine deficiency was independently associated with low free testosterone levels in male hemodialysis patients. Methods: Nineteen male hemodialysis patients underwent determinations of blood chemistries, including serum levels of free testosterone, carnitine and pentosidine, one of the well-characterized advanced glycation end products. Results: Mean free testosterone levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (4.67 ± 2.69 vs 9.50 ± 3.67 pg/ml, p<0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that carnitine (p=0.023), pentosidine (inversely, p=0.027), blood glucose (inversely, p=0.032), creatinine (p=0.026) levels and statin use (inversely, p=0.034) were correlated with free testosterone values. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that carnitine (p=0.001) and statin use (inversely, p=0.002) were the independent determinants of age-adjusted free testosterone levels in hemodialysis patients (r2=0.612). Conclusions: The present study gives the first evidence that decreased carnitine levels were independently associated with low free testosterone values in male hemodialysis patients. Our study suggests that decreased carnitine levels may be a novel therapeutic target for uremic men with hemodialysis.Rejuvenation Research 03/2013; · 3.83 Impact Factor -
Article: Decreased serum carnitine is independently correlated with increased tissue accumulation levels of advanced glycation end products in hemodialysis patients.
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ABSTRACT: SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: This study demonstrated decreased serum carnitine levels and elevated skin AGEs in hemodialysis patients, and provides a possible novel marker of cardiovascular outcomes in this group of patients. ABSTRACT: Background and Aims: There is accumulating evidence that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with hemodialysis (HD). Carnitine deficiency is frequently observed in HD patients, which may also contribute to CVD. In this study, we examined whether carnitine deficiency was independently associated with increased tissue accumulation levels of AGEs in HD patients. Methods: One hundred twenty nine HD patients underwent determinations of blood chemistries including serum level of carnitine. Tissue AGE levels were evaluated by measuring skin autofluorescence with an AGE-reader. Results: Serum carnitine levels were significantly lower, while skin AGE levels were significantly higher in HD patients compared with healthy control (p<0.001). In univariate analysis, β(2) -microglobulin (β(2) -MG) and carnitine (inversely) were correlated with skin AGE levels. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that carnitine levels were one of the independent determinants of skin AGE levels (p=0.024). When β(2) -MG-adjusted skin AGE levels were stratified by serum carnitine levels, a statistical significance and dose-response relationship were observed (p=0.043). Furthermore, skin AGE levels were one of the independent determinants of serum carnitine levels as well (p=0.012). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that decreased carnitine levels were independently associated with increased skin AGE levels in HD patients. Since carnitine is reported to inhibit the formation of AGEs in vitro, our study suggests that supplementation of carnitine may be a therapeutic target for preventing the accumulation of tissue AGEs and subsequently reducing the risk of CVD in HD patients. © 2012 The Authors. Nephrology © 2012 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.Nephrology 07/2012; · 1.31 Impact Factor
