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 .
Effect of L-acetylcarnitine on body composition in HIV-related lipodystrophy.
This study examined the impact of L-acetylcarnitine treatment on metabolic parameters and body composition in patients with lipodystrophy syndrome secondary to antiretroviral treatment in human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) infection . A total of 9 HIV-1 infected patients with lipodystrophy syndrome ( 4F/5 M , age 41+/-5 years , HIV duration 8+/-2 years , BMI 23.7+/-3.4 kg/m(2 ) , on protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogue Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors )  were evaluated before and after 8 months of therapy with L-acetylcarnitine ( 2 g/die ) and 9 matched healthy subjects served as control subjects . In all patients fasting plasma glucose , insulin concentrations ( for evaluation of surrogate indexes of insulin sensitivity ) , lipid profile , lipid oxidation ( by indirect calorimetry ) , body composition ( by DEXA ) , and intramyocellular triglyceride ( IMCL ) content of the calf muscles ( by (1)H NMR spectroscopy ) were assessed . After this therapy , in HIV-1 patients , the IMCL content of the soleus had significantly decreased ( p=0.03 ) . Plasma FFAs ( 0.79+/-0.31 to 0.64+/-0.25 ; p<0.05 ) and Respiratory Quotient ( 0.83+/-0.18 to 0.72+/-0.16 ; p<0.03 ) also decreased . Insulin sensitivity was significantly lower prior ( HOMA-IS 0.56+/-0.30 ) and nonstatistically different than controls after therapy ( 0.72+/-0.49 vs. 0.78+/-0.42 ) whilst the percentage of fat in the legs increased ( p=0.05 ) . Eight months of L-acetylcarnitine treatment increased lipid oxidation , decreased intramyocellular triglyceride content , and induced a more physiological distribution of fat deposits
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 .