Levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (pg ml-1) were also lowered by carnitine in both LPS (IL-1 beta: 536 +/- 65 vs 378 +/- 44: IL-6: 271 +/- 29 vs 222 +/- 32; TNF-alpha: 618 +/- 86 vs 367 +/- 54, P < or = 0.02) and sarcoma models (IL-1 beta: 423 +/- 33 vs 221 +/- 60; IL-6: 222 +/- 18 vs 139 +/- 38; TNF-alpha: 617 +/- 69 vs 280 +/- 77, P < or = 0.05) for control and carnitine groups respectively. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and sarcoma.