≥12 weeks of L-carnitine supplements reduce inflammation

Afbeelding

Objectives:
Has L-carnitine supplementation positive effects on inflammatory mediators including C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)?

Study design:
This review article included 13 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found L-carnitine supplementation was significantly associated with lower levels of CRP in comparison to controls [WMD = -1.23 mg/L, 95% CI = -1.73 to -0.72 mg/dL, p  0.0001].
This reduced effect was greatest during an intervention of more than 12 weeks.

The investigators found L-carnitine supplementation was also significantly associated with lower levels of IL-6 in comparison to controls [WMD = -0.85 pg/dL, 95% CI = -1.38 to -0.32 pg/dL, p = 0.002].
This reduced effect was greatest during an intervention of more than 12 weeks.

The investigators found L-carnitine supplementation was also significantly associated with lower levels of TNF-α in comparison to controls [WMD = -0.37 pg/dL, 95% CI = -0.68 to -0.06 pg/dL, p = 0.018].
This reduced effect was greatest during an intervention of more than 12 weeks.

The investigators concluded that L-carnitine supplementation reduces levels of inflammatory mediators, especially in studies with a duration of more than 12 weeks. Further studies with different doses and intervention durations and separately in men and women are necessary.

Original title:
The effect of L-carnitine on inflammatory mediators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials by Haghighatdoost F, Jabbari M and Hariri M.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30915521 

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find here more information/studies about chronic disease and L-carnitine.