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L-Carnitine treatment reduces severity of physical and mental fatigue and increases cognitive functions in centenarians: a randomized and controlled clinical trial^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

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 µmol; P < 0.05), plasma long-chain acylcarnitine (1.50 compared with –0.1 µmol; P < 0.001), and plasma short-chain acylcarnitine (6.0 compared with –1.50 µmol; 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.

Key Words: L-Carnitine • L-acetyl-carnitine • centenarians • fatigue • cognitive functions

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				A. Bernard, C. Rigault, F. Mazue, F. L. Borgne, and J. Demarquoy L-Carnitine Supplementation and Physical Exercise Restore Age-Associated Decline in Some Mitochondrial Functions in the Rat J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., October 1, 2008; 63(10): 1027 - 1033. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]