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.
Malaguarnera
Mariano
M
Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. malaguar@unict.it
Cammalleri
Lisa
L
Gargante
Maria Pia
MP
Vacante
Marco
M
Colonna
Valentina
V
Motta
Massimo
M
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