1: Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;86(6):1738-44.

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

Malaguarnera M, Cammalleri L, Gargante MP, Vacante M, Colonna V, Motta
M.

Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences,
University of
Catania, Catania, Italy. malaguar@unict.it

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.

PMID: 18065594 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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