Noor Kadhim Mohammed-Jawad^1,, May Al- Sabbagh², Kaiss A. AL-Jezaeri³

Objective: To assess the effects of administration of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 on glycemic control, lipid profile and lipoprotein (a) when added to pre-existing oral antidiabetic drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Fifty seven type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned into three groups for treatment with L-carnitine (1g daily), coenzyme Q10 (150mg daily), orcontinued on the same oral antidiabetic drugs (sulfonylurea and metformin) and considered as control group. All patients have been kept on the same medications throughout the study. Patients followed up after 8 weeks of treatment. Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and lipoprotein (a) measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: There is significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-c and lipoprotein (a) in both L-carnitine group and coenzyme Q10 group after 8 weeks of treatment. In addition HbA1c% significantly decreased in coenzyme Q10 group compared to control group. There were no significant differences in HDL-c in all three groups. Conclusion: Supplementation with L-carnitineor coenzyme Q10 improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic subjects when added to conventional antidiabetic medications and could help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications by reduction of LDL-cholesterol and lipoprotein (a).

L-carnitine, Coenzyme Q10, type 2 diabetes, glycemic control, lipid profile, lipoprotein (a)