Studies on Lipid Metabolism in Mice Treated with -Hydroxy, -Betaine-Butyric Acid

Abstract

Administration of [beta]-hydroxy, gamma-betaine-butyric acid (DL-carnitine hydrochloride, DLC) markedly increased the oxidation of C14-1-palmitic acid injected as such or as the triglyceride, but did not alter total CO2 output of fasting mice. Oxidation of C14-labeled oleic acid, glycerol, sodium butyrate or acetate, glucose, glycine or DL-leucine was not increased by the compound. Long term administration of DLC neither altered the per cent composition of the major fatty acids in epididymal lipids of non-obese mice, nor was it able appreciably to decrease the carcass lipids of gold-thioglucose obese mice.