Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (Jan 2012)

Effects of Oral L-Carnitine Supplementation on Lipid Profile, Anemia, and Quality of Life in Chronic Renal Disease Patients under Hemodialysis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

  • Afsoon Emami Naini,
  • Mahnaz Moradi,
  • Mojgan Mortazavi,
  • Asghar Amini Harandi,
  • Mehdi Hadizadeh,
  • Farhad Shirani,
  • Hamed Basir Ghafoori,
  • Pardis Emami Naini

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/510483
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2012

Abstract

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In patients on maintenance hemodialysis several factors reduce the body stored carnitine which could lead to dyslipidemia, anemia, and general health in these patients. We evaluated the effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on lipid profiles, anemia, and quality of life (QOL) in hemodialysis patients. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis received either L-carnitine 1 g/d (n=24) or placebo (27 patients) for 16 weeks. At the end of the study, there was a significant decrease in triglyceride (-31.1±38.7 mg/dL, P=0.001) and a significant increase in HDL (3.7±2.8 mg/dL, P0.05). Erythropoietin dose was significantly decreased in both the carnitine (-4750±5772 mg, P=0.001) and the placebo group (-2000±4296 mg, P<0.05). No improvement was observed in QOL scores of two groups. In ESRD patients under maintenance hemodialysis, oral L-carnitine supplementation may reduce triglyceride and cholesterol and increase HDL and hemoglobin and subsequently reduce needed erythropoietin dose without effect on QOL.