Evaluation of the effects of L-carnitine on medaka (Oryzias latipes) fatty liver

Abstract Lifestyle-related diseases have become a major issue in recent years. The increasing incidence of fatty liver underlines the urgency with which the issues of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) need to be addressed. L-carnitine is a compound known to transport fatty acids into the mitochondria to enhance β-oxidation-mediated metabolism of fats. In this study, the effects of L-carnitine administration on fatty liver of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were analysed, to check for disease improvement and metabolic changes. Additionally, the effects of the concomitant administration of L-carnitine and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) (EPA) were investigated. Findings indicated reduced lipid deposition, increase in metabolites associated with β-oxidation, and significant reduction in fatty acid levels in the liver, implying improvement in fatty liver condition. Concomitant administration of L-carnitine and EPA resulted in further benefits, via changes in fatty acid composition in the medaka fatty liver model.