Possible Neuroprotective Effects of L-Carnitine on White-Matter Microstructural Damage and Cognitive Decline in Hemodialysis Patients

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2021 Apr 30

PMID 33919810

Citations 3

Authors

Yuji Ueno

Asami Saito

Junichiro Nakata

Koji Kamagata

Daisuke Taniguchi

Yumiko Motoi

Hiroaki Io

Christina Andica

Atsuhiko Shindo

Kenta Shiina

Nobukazu Miyamoto

Kazuo Yamashiro

Takao Urabe

Yusuke Suzuki

Shigeki Aoki

Nobutaka Hattori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Although l-carnitine alleviated white-matter lesions in an experimental study, the treatment effects of l-carnitine on white-matter microstructural damage and cognitive decline in hemodialysis patients are unknown. Using novel diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) techniques, white-matter microstructural changes together with cognitive decline in hemodialysis patients and the effects of l-carnitine on such disorders were investigated. Fourteen hemodialysis patients underwent dMRI and laboratory and neuropsychological tests, which were compared across seven patients each in two groups according to duration of l-carnitine treatment: (1) no or short-term l-carnitine treatment (NSTLC), and (2) long-term l-carnitine treatment (LTLC). Ten age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Compared to controls, microstructural disorders of white matter were widely detected on dMRI of patients. An autopsy study of one patient in the NSTLC group showed rarefaction of myelinated fibers in white matter. With LTLC, microstructural damage on dMRI was alleviated along with lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and substantial increases in carnitine levels. The LTLC group showed better achievement on trail making test A, which was correlated with amelioration of disorders in some white-matter tracts. Novel dMRI tractography detected abnormalities of white-matter tracts after hemodialysis. Long-term treatment with l-carnitine might alleviate white-matter microstructural damage and cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients.

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