Posted by BarbaraCat on September 10, 2003, at 1:54:33
In reply to L-Carnitine and Depakote » BarbaraCat, posted by katia on September 9, 2003, at 14:46:07
Yes, very interesting! L-Carnitine is supposed to help control 'blood sugar' and slows down the absorption of carbs to be stored as fat. This all has to do with insulin levels. Carbs are stored in cells and can only be released by insulin. Once carbs are released, they become the glucose the body and brain runs on. If insulin receptors become desensitized though different means, carbs don't get released, don't get used for energy production, and end up getting stored as fat, causing a high free insulin blood level, blood sugar spikes, hypoglycemic symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, mental duhhhh, weight gain - sound familiar?
What I've been finding out through searching since we talked about all this is that Depakote negatively affects insulin - why or how I don't know yet - causing the same insulin resistance problems (hyperinsulemia) described above. Taking L-Carn makes alot of sense, since L-Carnitine supposedly prevents and reverses hyperinsulemia which would prevent the weight gain that bound up carbs cause. I'm running out and getting me some tomorrow!
This whole insulin/carbs thing is the main theory behind the Atkins diet, the Zone, all these low carb diets. This would be a great litmus test for L-carnitine, eh? But I wonder if Depakote somehow works because of this insulin effect thing and if L-Carn would interfere? Even so, best to know these things about these strange substances we take and hope and pray will make us feel better and hopefully not turn us into physical wrecks.
Of course, we don't know for sure that Depakote causes hyperinsulemia but there's alot of research saying it does. I wonder if the other 'porkogenic' meds cause weight gain through the same insulin connection. If so, this is something serious to look into. Hyperinsulemia is turning out to be a very bad thing - dangerous to the heart, Diabetes II, and not just a fat issue. - Barbara
> Hiya Barb,
> Very interesting info I found out....
> I was doing some research on L-Carn. b/c I wanted to find out if I should be taking it on Dep. I was sooooo racy yesterday. I woke up at 6:30 and went to bed the previous night at 1:30 for a total of 5 hours. I got a lot done and even worked. I was wondering if it had to do w/ L-Carn. or my mood swing.
> Anyway, what I found out is ironically and coicindentally enough Depakote reduced L-Carnitine in people and when that happens, weight gain happens. So it's probably a very good thing to take while on dep.
> Interesting huh?
> gotta go. A depressed "no one loves me" doggie needs a walk right now.
> Katia
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/258642.html