Abstract

ACEVEDO-PABON, Ángel F; MANRIQUE-ABRIL, Fred G  and  OSPINA-DIAZ, Juan M. Impact of vigorous exercise on serum levels of L-carnitine in prisoners in Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.5, pp.689-698. ISSN 0124-0064.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v17n5.39577.

Objective To assess the effect of a program of vigorous physical exercises on the serum concentration of free and total L-carnitine, in male inmates at a prison in Boyacá, Colombia. Methods Pre-post intervention population-based study. 44 male prisoners with overweight and/or obesity, from a jail in Boyacá, Colombia were randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention consisted in participating in a vigorous exercise program over twelve weeks. Anthropometric measures and levels of free and total L-carnitine were every four weeks. Results There were significant increases in serum levels of free and total L-carnitine in the intervention group compared to the control group. Concurrently, in this group there was a reduction in body mass index (BMI), while in the control group there were no changes. Conclusion In overweight and/or obese patients, the routine practice of vigorous exercise plus caloric restriction offers significant benefits in reducing body fat volumes through the mechanisms of energetic consumption of long chain fatty acids.

Keywords : Obesity; physical exercises; carnitine; lipid metabolism.

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