Having this evidence s , the potential role of Carnitine in improving malnutrition consequences in CKD patients would be clearly defined
Protein energy malnutrition is a common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) .
Scattered reports indicate that supplementation of Carnitine may improve patients ' clinical symptoms , with significant improvement in nutritional parameters .
This systematic review was done to document the evidence s of Carnitine effects in nutritional status of CKD patients .
Results of a single blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to study the effect of intravenous L-carnitine supplementation on health-related quality of life in Indian patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
BACKGROUND Carnitine insufficiency is responsible for various co-morbid conditions in maintenance hemodialysis ( MHD ) patients .  L-carnitine supplementation is expected to improve the quality of life ( QoL ) of patients on MHD . AIMS To study the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on QoL of Indian patients on MHD . SETTING AND DESIGN This was a single ( patient ) blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted on patients on MHD attending hemodialysis unit of the study center . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Twenty patients on MHD suffering from hemodialysis-related symptoms were r and omly assigned to receive intravenous L-carnitine 20 mg/kg or placebo after every dialysis session for 8 weeks . SF36 ( Short Form with 36 questions ) score for QoL , laboratory investigations and dialysis related symptoms were recorded at baseline and after 8 weeks . Improvement in QoL , laboratory parameters and dialysis related symptoms in the two groups after 8 weeks was compared . STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED Depending on normality of data , unpaired T test or Mann Whitney U test was used for comparison of change ( 8 weeks-baseline ) in SF36 scores and laboratory parameters observed in the two groups . RESULTS L-carnitine supplementation increased total SF36 score by 18.29 + /- 12.71 ( 95 % CI : 10.41 to 26 ) while placebo result ed in reduction in total SF36 score by 6.4 + /- 16.39 ( 95 % CI : -16.59 to 3.73 ) . L-carnitine also result ed in significant increase in hemoglobin and serum albumin and decrease in serum creatinine as compared to placebo . More patients were relieved of dialysis related symptoms in L-carnitine group . CONCLUSION Intravenous L-carnitine supplementation improves QoL in patients on MHD
Having this evidence s , the potential role of Carnitine in improving malnutrition consequences in CKD patients would be clearly defined
Protein energy malnutrition is a common problem in patients with chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) .
Scattered reports indicate that supplementation of Carnitine may improve patients ' clinical symptoms , with significant improvement in nutritional parameters .
This systematic review was done to document the evidence s of Carnitine effects in nutritional status of CKD patients .