L-Carnitine treatment reduces severity of physical and mental fatigue and increases cognitive functions in centenarians: a randomized and controlled clinical trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Centenarians are characterized by weakness, decreasing mental health, impaired mobility, and poor endurance. L-Carnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism.

OBJECTIVE:

This study evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine on physical and mental fatigue and on cognitive functions of centenarians.

DESIGN:

This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, 2-phase study. Sixty-six centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical activity were recruited to the study. The 2 groups received either 2 g levocarnitine once daily (n = 32) or placebo (n = 34). Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass, total muscle mass, serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living, and a 6-min walking corridor test.

RESULTS:

At the end of the study period, the levocarnitine-treated centenarians, compared with the placebo group, showed significant improvements in the following markers: total fat mass (-1.80 compared with 0.6 kg; P < 0.01), total muscle mass (3.80 compared with 0.8 kg; P < 0.01), plasma concentrations of total carnitine (12.60 compared with -1.70 mumol; P < 0.05), plasma long-chain acylcarnitine (1.50 compared with -0.1 micromol; P < 0.001), and plasma short-chain acylcarnitine (6.0 compared with -1.50 micromol; P < 0.001). Significant differences were also found in physical fatigue (-4.10 compared with -1.10; P < 0.01), mental fatigue (-2.70 compared with 0.30; P < 0.001), fatigue severity (-23.60 compared with 1.90; P < 0.001), and MMSE (4.1 compared with 0.6; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study indicates that oral administration of levocarnitine produces a reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions.

• Authors: Mariano Malaguarnera, Lisa Cammalleri, Maria Pia Gargante, Marco Vacante, Valentina Colonna, Massimo Motta
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 86 Issue 6 Pg. 1738-44 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 0002-9165 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18065594 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
• Creatinine
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
• Creatine Kinase
• Carnitine

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (drug effects, physiology)
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (blood, drug effects, physiology, urine)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects, physiology)
• Carnitine (administration & dosage, blood, urine)
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Cognition (drug effects, physiology)
• Creatine Kinase (blood)
• Creatinine (blood)
• Double-Blind Method
• Fatigue (blood, drug therapy, physiopathology, urine)
• Female
• Heart Rate (drug effects, physiology)
• Humans
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (blood)
• Male
• Muscles (drug effects, physiology)
• Triglycerides (blood)