L-carnitine supplementation for the management of fatigue in patients with cancer: an eastern cooperative oncology group phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Study answer

What this study found

L-carnitine did not improve fatigue compared with placebo in this cancer population. On the primary Brief Fatigue Inventory outcome, the change from baseline to week 4 was −0.96 with L-carnitine versus −1.11 with placebo (P = .57), and both groups improved from baseline, suggesting a placebo effect. Secondary outcomes were also negative, with no between-group differences for FACIT-F fatigue (P = .64), depression (P = .93), pain severity (P = .61), or pain interference (P = .75). Baseline carnitine deficiency did not predict benefit. Grade 5 serious adverse events were rare and did not differ…

Study & population

This was a phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted across 24 ECOG-associated sites.

Intervention

Participants in the active arm received oral liquid L-carnitine 1 g twice daily for 4 weeks, for a total dose of 2 g/day.

Key limitation

The intervention period was short at 4 weeks, which may have limited the ability to detect delayed effects.

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Original abstract