Background: The use of contrast media in coronary interventions favors diagnostic success. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is considered a frequent adverse event in the presence of the risk factor diabetes mellitus (DM). L-Carnitine is a lipid metabolism compound with a possible antioxidant effect. Objectives: to evaluate the effect of L-Carnitine on contrast-induced nephropathy in rats with diabetes mellitus. Method: twenty-eight male Wistar rats (250-300g) were randomized into four groups: Citrate (control); Diabetes (65mg/kg of intravenous streptozotocin); Diabetes+Iodinated contrast (meglumine sodium ioxathalamate 6ml/kg intraperitoneal-i.p, single dose); Diabetes+Iodinated contrast+L-Carnitine (50 mg/kg i.p. administered for 5 days). Physiological parameters were evaluated (weight, feed and water intake, glycemia and ratio of kidney weight to animal weight); renal function (inulin clearance, serum creatinine, urinary NGAL and urinary albumin); renal hemodynamics and oxidative profile (urine peroxides, thiols in renal tissue, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in urine and urinary nitric oxide). Results: Contrast-induced nephropathy was confirmed by reduced renal blood flow, increased renal vascular resistance, reduced inulin clearance, increased serum creatinine, and urinary NGAL with increased oxidative peroxide and consumption of antioxidant enzymes. L-Carnitine favored the improvement of renal function and hemodynamics with recovery of redox imbalance. Conclusion: the use of L-Carnitine demonstrated a renoprotective and antioxidant effect.