Carnitine is known for its essential role in intermediary metabolism. In vitro studies suggest that its
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are potentially beneficial toward
cancer prevention. This study tested effects of
carnitine on the development of
colon cancer in vivo using 2 murine models:
azoxymethane (AOM) treatment as a model of
carcinogen-induced
colon cancer and a genetically induced model using Apc (Min/+) mice. AOM and Apc (Min/+) mice divided into dietary groups varying in
lipid content, with or without
carnitine supplementation (0.08%). AOM-exposed mice on a high butterfat diet had significantly increased aberrant crypts (ACF) (9.3 ± 0.88 vs. 6.3 ± 0.65), and macroscopic
tumors (3.8 ± 0.95 vs. 2.0 ± 0.25) compared to mice on a control diet. In AOM mice fed the high butterfat diet,
carnitine supplementation inhibited ACF (4.9 ± 0.7 vs. 9.3 ± 0.88, P < 0.001), crypt multiciplicity (1.6 ± 0.08 vs. 1.92 ± 0.1, P < 0.01) and
tumors (1.5 ± 0.38 vs. 3.8 ± 0.95, P < 0.001).
Carnitine supplementation resulted in significantly increased tissue
carnitine and
acylcarnitine levels.
Carnitine inhibited the development of precancerous lesions and macroscopic colonic
tumors in AOM-treated mice. However,
carnitine did not exert protective effects on intestinal
tumors in Apc (Min/+) mice.