No significant effect was seen for waist circumference ( WC ) and body fat percent .
A non-linear dose-response association was seen between l-carnitine supplementation and body weight reduction ( P < 0.001 ) suggesting that ingestion of 2000 mg l-carnitine per day provides the maximum effect in adults .
This association was not seen for BMI , WC and body fat percent .
CONCLUSIONS l-carnitine supplementation provides a modest reducing effect on body weight , BMI and fat mass , especially among adults with overweight/obesity
BACKGROUND AND AIM Clinical evidence which investigated the effects of l-carnitine , a vitamin-like substance , on weight loss had led to inconsistent results .
This study therefore aim ed to examine the effect of l-carnitine supplementation on body weight and composition by including the maximum number of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) and to conduct a dose-response analysis , for the first time .
Levocarnitine Administration in Elderly Subjects with Rapid Muscle Fatigue
Aim Levocarnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism . This study aims to evaluate the effects of levocarnitine supplementation on body composition , lipid profile and fatigue in elderly subjects with rapid muscle fatigue . Method This was a placebo-controlled , r and omised , double-blind , two-phase study . Eighty-four elderly subjects with onset of fatigue following slight physical activity were recruited to the study . Prior to r and omisation all patients entered a 2-week normalisation phase where they were given an ‘ ad libitum ’ diet , according to the National Cholesterol Education Program ( Step 2 ) . Subjects were asked to record their daily food intake every 2 days . Before the 30-day treatment phase , subjects were r and omly assigned to two groups ( matched for male/female ratio , age and body mass index ) . One group received levocarnitine 2 g twice daily ( n = 42 ) and the other placebo ( n = 42 ) . Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass , total muscle mass , serum triglyceride , total cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , apolipoprotein (apo)A1 , and apoB levels . The Wessely and Powell scale was used to evaluate physical and mental fatigue . Subjects were assessed at the beginning and end of the study period . Results At the end of the study , compared with placebo , the levocarnitine-treated patients showed significant improvements in the following parameters : total fat mass ( −3.1 vs −0.5 kg ) , total muscle mass ( + 2.1 vs + 0.2 kg ) , total cholesterol ( −1.2 vs + 0.1 mmol/L ) , LDL-C ( −1.1 vs −0.2 mmol/L ) , HDL-C ( + 0.2 vs + 0.01 mmol/ L ) , triglycerides ( −0.3 vs 0.0 mmol/L ) , apoA1 ( −0.2 vs 0.0 g/L ) , and apoB ( −0.3 vs −0.1 g/L ) . Wessely and Powell scores decreased significantly by 40 % ( physical fatigue ) and 45 % ( mental fatigue ) in subjects taking levocarnitine , compared with 11 % and 8 % , respectively , in the placebo group ( p < 0.001 vs placebo for both parameters ) . No adverse events were reported in any treatment group . Conclusion Administration of levocarnitine to healthy elderly subjects result ed in a reduction of total fat mass , an increase of total muscle mass , and appeared to exert a favourable effect on fatigue and serum lipids
No significant effect was seen for waist circumference ( WC ) and body fat percent .
A non-linear dose-response association was seen between l-carnitine supplementation and body weight reduction ( P < 0.001 ) suggesting that ingestion of 2000 mg l-carnitine per day provides the maximum effect in adults .
This association was not seen for BMI , WC and body fat percent .
CONCLUSIONS l-carnitine supplementation provides a modest reducing effect on body weight , BMI and fat mass , especially among adults with overweight/obesity
BACKGROUND AND AIM Clinical evidence which investigated the effects of l-carnitine , a vitamin-like substance , on weight loss had led to inconsistent results .
This study therefore aim ed to examine the effect of l-carnitine supplementation on body weight and composition by including the maximum number of r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) and to conduct a dose-response analysis , for the first time .