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


METHODS
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.
Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. malaguar@unict.it
Mariano
M
Malaguarnera
Lisa
L
Cammalleri
Maria Pia
MP
Gargante
Marco
M
Vacante
Valentina
V
Colonna
Massimo
M
Motta
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D002331:Carnitine