Several authors have supplemented patients submitted to the hemodialytic treatment with L-carnitine, with the aim to affect the lipid profile often unfavourably altered in these patients. Different doses of the compound have been employed and the outcome in plasma lipid changes is very dissimilar. Some authors have reported favourable changes, some have not observed any effect, some have reported a worsening of the lipids profile. A review of the data so far available may allow some considerations on the suitability of using L-carnitine in order to affect favourably the progress of accelerated atherosclerosis.