Knowledge of the influence of ions of various nature on intermolecular hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in solutions is required in many research fields. In this paper, dilution enthalpies of zwitterion L-carnitine in aqueous NaCl, KCl and NaBr solutions of various molalities (b = 0 to 3.0 mol.kg(-1)) have been determined respectively at T = (298.15 +/- 0.01) K and p = (0.100 +/- 0.005) MPa by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). In light of the MacMillan-Mayer theory, the 2nd virial enthalpic coefficients (h(2)) have been calculated. The h(2) coefficients increase gradually with increasing molality (b) of the three aqueous alkali halides solutions, from small negative values in pure water to relatively larger positive values in solution. The trends of h(2) coefficients are ascribed to the salt effects on the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in pairwise self-associations. It is considered that the size of cations and anions exert influences on h(2) coefficients through their surface charge densities and hydration (or dehydration) abilities. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.