title: L-Carnitine-supplementation in advanced pancreatic cancer (CARPAN)--a randomized multicentre trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cachexia, a >10% loss of body-weight, is one factor determining the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Deficiency of L-Carnitine has been proposed to cause cancer cachexia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We screened 152 and enrolled 72 patients suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer in a prospective, multi-centre, placebo-controlled, randomized and double-blinded trial to receive oral L-Carnitine (4 g) or placebo for 12 weeks. At entry patients reported a mean weight loss of 12 ± 2.5 (SEM) kg. During treatment body-mass-index increased by 3.4 ± 1.4% under L-Carnitine and decreased (-1.5 ± 1.4%) in controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, nutritional status (body cell mass, body fat) and quality-of-life parameters improved under L-Carnitine. There was a trend towards an increased overall survival in the L-Carnitine group (median 519 ± 50 d versus 399 ± 43 d, not significant) and towards a reduced hospital-stay (36 ± 4d versus 41 ± 9d,n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While these data are preliminary and need confirmation they indicate that patients with pancreatic cancer may have a clinically relevant benefit from the inexpensive and well tolerated oral supplementation of L-Carnitine.
authors: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Friedrich Löffler Straße 23a, Greifswald 17475, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Kraft
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Kraft
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Gärtner
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Mayerle
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Simon
authors: Eckhard
authors: E
authors: Weber
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Schütte
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Stieler
authors: Heide
authors: H
authors: Koula-Jenik
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Holzhauer
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Gröber
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Engel
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Müller
authors: You-Shan
authors: YS
authors: Feng
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Aghdassi
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Nitsche
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Malfertheiner
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Patrzyk
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kohlmann
authors: Markus M
authors: MM
authors: Lerch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002331:Carnitine