L-carnitine treatment of insulin resistance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background. L-carnitine has been used for several years as an adjuvant therapy in oxidative stress, blood sugar, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), anemia, etc. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine treating insulin resistance (IR) remains controversial. Homeostasis model assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is widely used in the clinical evaluation of patients with IR. Objectives.A meta-analysis, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), was performed to assess the effect of L-carnitine on HOMA-IR patients.Material and methods. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched to identify RCTs which evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on HOMA-IR patients. We screened relevant studies according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the selected articles, we extracted the data: study design, sample size, age, L-carnitine dose and regimen, body mass index (BMI) of patients, mode of administration, study duration and study outcomes.Results. A total of 5 studies were included for the meta-analysis. The result showed L-carnitine was useful in the treatment of IR (WMD -0.724, CI -0.959 -0.488, p < 0.0001). Evaluation at 3, 6, 9, 12 months, the p-values were 0.875, 0.165, 0.031, 0, 007, respectively.Conclusions. L-carnitine was useful in treating patients with IR. L-carnitine can treat IR more effectively with prolonging the medication time. However, more RCTs with long-term L-carnitine treatment of IR are needed to confirm the viewpoint.

Elevated chemerin induces insulin resistance in human granulosa‐lutein cells from polycystic ovary syndrome patients

“…IR was determined by the homeostasis model of assessment for IR index (HOMA-IR) or fasting insulin level. Fasting insulin $ 15 mIU/ml or HOMA-IR $ 2.68 was diagnosed as IR (25). Nonpatients with PCOS with regular menstruation and normal body mass index (BMI, 18.5-23.9 kg/m 2 ) were divided into 2 groups according to IR index or fasting insulin level: non-PCOS without IR and non-PCOS with IR.…”

ALSUntangled 53: Carnitine supplements

“…A single clinical study showed higher blood LC levels to be associated with cardiovascular disease (83). In spite of this possibly causal association, clinical trials have suggested that LC supplementation lowers the risk of all-cause mortality following a myocardial infarction (86) and has some benefit in heart failure (67) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (87,88). Abnormalities of energy metabolism in PALS (35) likely changes this risk, but the relationship is unknown.…”

“…Carnitine supplements are typically taken orally but have been administered by intramuscular or intravenous injections. The clinical trial showing some possible benefit of ALCAR in PALS used 1000 mg ALCAR by mouth three times per day (55); similar total daily doses of LC (7,67,88) and PLC (26)(27)(28)69) have been used in other human clinical trials. The optimal dosage or form of carnitine for use in ALS is not clear; however, it is unlikely that individual doses over 1000 mg will lead to greater absorption (89,90).…”

Levocarnitine for the Treatment of Polymorbid Patients

“…В систематическом обзоре и мета-анализе Y. Xu и соавт. [36], в котором изучалось влияние левокарнитина на инсулинорезистентность (в анализ вошло 5 рандомизированных клинических исследований), было подтверждено положительное влияние левокарнитина на инсулинорезистентность (индекс инсулинорезистентности -HOMA-IR), которая статистически значимо уменьшалась пропорционально длительности применения препарата [взвешенная разность средних (ВРС) -0,724; 95%ДИ [-0,959;-0,488]; p<0,0001]; р-значения для показателей HOMA-IR через 3, 6, 9, 12 мес составили 0,875, 0,165, 0,031, 0,007, соответственно [36].…”