Animal and Veterinary Sciences

L-carnitine is essential for energy production and fatty acid metabolism. This study was designed to evaluate effects of L-carnitine on liver enzymes in rats fed cholesterol rich diet. Thirty two healthy male Wistar Albino rats were divided to four groups as Control (K), Cholesterol (C), L-carnitine (L) and L-carnitine+cholesterol (LC). All rats were kept in individual cages during the experiment for 40 days. K group was fed standard rat pellets ad libitum, C group was fed standard rat pellets containing 7.5 % cholesterol powder, L group was fed standard rat pellets and water containing 75 mg/l L-carnitine and LC group was fed standard rat pellets containing 7.5% cholesterol and water containing 75 mg/l L-carnitine. At the end of the study, blood samples were taken from all animals in order to determine aspartase transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)levels. AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT levels significantly increased in C group compared to K group (p<0.05). In LC group, AST, ALT, ALP levels significantly decreased compared with the C group (p<0.05). Although GGT level in LC group was decreased, the change was not different from C group. These results indicate that L-carnitine may prevent liver damage caused by high cholesterol diet in rats.