L-Carnitine Therapy on Hemodialysis Patients

The role of carnitine as a transport molecule to facilitate fatty acid metabolism and energy production has been studied extensively. Adequate carnitine levels are critical to normal function in tissues of the heart and skeletal muscle. Carnitine is a water-soluble low-molecular-weight molecule that is effectively removed from plasma by dialysis. Approximately 75% of free carnitine is removed from plasma during each dialysis session. The clinical topics presented in this supplement were selected on the basis of available evidence for a possible beneficial effect of L-carnitine replacement therapy on skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and red blood cell function.