Encouraging results for L-carnitine in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

L-carnitine was associated with improvements in markers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when this intervention was compared with lifestyle advice in a randomised clinical trial.

Dr Pezhman Alavinejad (Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran) and his team compared the use of L-carnitine versus lifestyle modification advice in patients with NAFLD. The participants (n=393) were randomised 1:1 to L-carnitine supplementation, 1,000 mg, twice daily, or to lifestyle modification advice. Dr Pezhman discussed the results after 12 weeks of therapy.

The average serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT) had dropped from 65.6 to 40.9 IU/L in the L-carnitine arm and from 62.8 to 50.7 IU/L in the control arm, a significant difference in favour of the intervention arm (P=0.0029). Similarly, the average serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was reduced from 50.9 to 35.7 IU/L in the L-carnitine group and from 54.7 to 44.9 IU/L in the control group (P=0.046). “Other metabolic biomarkers such as blood sugar, lipid levels, and BMI did not show apparent differences between the 2 groups after 12 weeks of therapy,” added Dr Alavinejad. Finally, ultrasonic assessments at 12 weeks showed that the rate of participants with grade 4 NAFLD was reduced from 37.9% to 12.0% in the intervention arm, whereas the corresponding reduction in the control group was only from 41.0% to 30.0%. This reflected a significant difference between the 2 arms (P<0.05).

“L-carnitine may be effective in the management of NAFLD and can improve the biophysical profile of these patients, including liver transaminases and the grade of fatty liver disease,” concluded Dr Alavinejad.

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   1. Alavinejad P, et al. L-carnitine efficacy for management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a multi centric randomized clinical trial. LB20, UEG Week 2024, 12–15 October, Vienna, Austria.

Medical writing support was provided by Robert van den Heuvel.
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Posted on 17 October 202417 October 2024