the Modulation of immunological cytokines and miRNA expression by L-carnitine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on glycaemic control, lipid profile, and immunological markers in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), with a focus on IL-10, IL-17, and microRNA expression.

Methods: A prospective interventional cohort study was conducted involving 175 T2DM patients (90 women, 85 men; aged 50–65 years) who received 2g/day of oral L-carnitine for six months. Fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Serum cytokines IL-10 and IL-17 were analysed using ELISA. Data were analysed using SPSS v21, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: HbA1c and triglyceride levels significantly decreased at both three and six months compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Fasting glucose showed a significant reduction at three months (p < 0.05), with a non-significant decrease at six months (p = 0.067). No significant changes were observed in total cholesterol levels. IL-10 levels increased significantly (p = 0.001), while IL-17 also showed a statistically significant change (p = 0.006). These results suggest potential immunomodulatory and metabolic effects of L-carnitine in T2DM.

Conclusion: L-carnitine supplementation improved glycaemic control and triglyceride levels in T2DM patients, with potential benefits on inflammatory markers. It may serve as a useful adjunct to conventional diabetes management, but further large-scale, long-term studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.