The effect of oral l-carnitine on the endothelial function of the hemodialysis patients
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 05/29/2012
Clinical Article
Sabri MR et al. – The study revealed that one month oral L–carnitine therapy does not improve endothelial function in hemodialysis patients. Long term studies with a large sample size using intravenous form and higher doses of the drug are required to clarify the questionable role of L–Carnitine in hemodialysis patients.
Methods- The authors studied 31 adult chronic hemodialysis patients in their center and divided them into two groups, a group of 20 patients who received 1500 mg/dialysis interval (every other day) oral L–carnitine and a control group of 11 patients who received placebo for one month.
- Ultrasonographic measurement of flow mediated dilation and carotid intima media thickness were performed before and after one month of L–carnitine and Placebo therapy.
- This study showed that after one month of L–carnitine or placebo therapy there was no significant improvement in flow mediated dilation ( p = 0.80, p=0.59 respectively) or decrease in carotid intima media thickness ( p = 0.12, p = 0.50 respectively).
