Evaluation of L-carnitine in the Treatment of Experimentally Induced Hypomagnesemia in Sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of L-carnitine in the treatment of experimentally induced hypomagnesemia in sheep. This study was carried out on 10 ossimi rams aged 10-12 months old with an average live weight of 35±1.1 kg that were used for experimental induction of hypomagnesemia. Rams with induced hypomagnesaemia were divided into two groups according to the line of treatment. The first group (n=5) was treated by the traditional treatment alone while the second group (n=5) was treated by the traditional treatment in addition to L-carnitine (20 mg/kg I/V). The symptoms of hypomagnesemia appeared gradually until complete appearance of symptoms at day 28 post induction. There was significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), glucose and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in experimentally induced hypomagnesemic rams. However, there were significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), urea, creatinine, cortisol, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and troponin I (cTnI) in experimentally induced hypomagnesemic rams. Treatment of hypomagnesemia with traditional treatment and L-carnitine resulted in significant elevation (P < 0.05) of serum Mg, Ca, glucose and PTH in hypomagnesemic rams than traditional treatment only. However, there were significant reduction (P < 0.05) in serum K, urea, CPK and cTnI than traditional treatment only at 24 hour after treatment. Based on the results of this study we concluded that the addition of L-carnitine to the traditional treatment of hypomagnesaemia in sheep is effective and produced earlier and more pronounced recovery.