| abstract |
The oral or parenteral administration of L-carnitine or certain acyl L-carnitines, typically propionyl L-carnitine, or the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, permits a considerable reduction (from 20 to approximately 50%) of the daily dose of insulin required by patients having juvenile diabetes mellitus to restore normal blood glucose levels. Moreover, L-carnitine and such acyl carnitines actively inhibit ketoacidosis, thus avoiding the risk of ketoacidosic coma in such patients. |