Efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation for improving lean body mass and physical function in patients on hemodialysis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Carnitine deficiency is common in patients on hemodialysis. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation for improving lean body mass (LBM) and physical function has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: In this multicenter, prospective, parallel, randomized, controlled trial, 91 patients on hemodialysis who developed carnitine deficiency were randomly assigned to receive injections of 1,000 mg L-carnitine 3 times per week after each hemodialysis session (L-carnitine group) or no injections (control group) with monitoring for 12 months. RESULTS: The data for 84 of the 91 patients were available for analysis (L-carnitine group, n = 42; control group, n = 42). Dry weight and body mass index did not significantly change in the L-carnitine group, but significantly decreased in the control group. Arm muscle area (AMA) did not change significantly in the L-carnitine group but decreased significantly in the control group; the difference in mean AMA between the groups was 6.22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.90-10.5; P = 0.037). Hand grip strength did not change significantly in the L-carnitine group, but decreased significantly in the control group. The difference in change in hand grip strength between the groups was 4.27% (95% CI 0.42-8.12; P = 0.030). Furthermore, LBM did not change significantly in the L-carnitine group but decreased significantly in the control group; the difference in mean LBM between the groups was 2.92 % (95% CI 1.28-4.61; P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine supplementation is useful in patients who develop carnitine deficiency on hemodialysis because it maintains physical function and LBM.

Effects of Levocarnitine on Cardiac Function and Renal Anemia in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Carnitine deficiency is a common condition in hemodialysis patients. There have been numerous reports on the efficacy of levocarnitine therapy in hemodialysis patients, including different views. Reported effects of levocarnitine are: (1) improvement of renal anemia, (2) improvement of cardiac functions, (3) effects on muscle spasm and asthenia, (4) anti-atherogenic effects, (5) anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and (6) inhibitory effects on dialysis hypotension. SUMMARY: Here, I present the effects of levocarnitine on renal anemia in hemodialysis patients with carnitine deficiency, focusing on the effect on dose reduction in erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and the influence on erythropoiesis resistance index. We also describe the effects on cardiac functions based on changes in cardiac ultrasonography. Key Message: To confirm the efficacy of levocarnitine therapy clinical studies would be required as well as the study of carnitine supplementation therapy for hemodialysis patients with carnitine deficiency.

Oral zinc supplementation reduces the erythropoietin responsiveness index in patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, zinc depletion caused by inadequate intake, malabsorption, and removal by HD treatment leads to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) hyporesponsiveness. This study investigated the effects of zinc supplementation in HD patients with zinc deficiency on changes in the erythropoietin responsiveness index (ERI). METHODS: Patients on HD with low serum zinc levels (<65 µg/dL) were randomly assigned to two groups: The polaprezinc group (who received daily polaprezinc, containing 34 mg/day of zinc) (n = 35) and the control group (no supplementation) (n = 35) for 12 months. All the 70 patients had been taking epoetin alpha as treatment for renal anemia. ERI was measured with the following equation: Weekly ESA dose (units)/dry weight (kg)/hemoglobin (g/dL). RESULTS: There were no significant changes in hemoglobin levels within groups or between the control and polaprezinc groups during the study period. Although reticulocyte counts were increased immediately after zinc supplementation, this change was transient. Serum zinc levels were significantly increased and serum copper levels were significantly decreased in the polaprezinc group after three months; this persisted throughout the study period. Although there was no significant change in the serum iron or transferrin saturation levels in the polaprezinc group during the study period, serum ferritin levels significantly decreased following polaprezinc treatment. Further, in the polaprezinc group, ESA dosage and ERI were significantly decreased at 10 months and nine months, respectively, as compared with the baseline value. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the change in the serum zinc level was an independent predictor of lowered ERI. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation reduces ERI in patients undergoing HD and may be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with renal anemia and low serum zinc levels.

Effects of levocarnitine on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease patients often exhibit a deficiency in L-carnitine due to loss during hemodialysis (HD). We studied the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of atherosclerosis, in HD patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, open-label, randomized, parallel controlled, multi-center trial testing the anti-atherosclerotic efficacy of oral L-carnitine administration (20 mg/kg/day). HD patients (n = 176, mean age, 67.2 ± 10.3 years old; mean duration of HD, 54 ± 51 months) with plasma free L-carnitine deficiency (<40 µmol/L) were randomly assigned to the oral L-carnitine group (n = 88) or control group (n = 88) and monitored during 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline clinical variables between the L-carnitine and control groups. L-carnitine supplementation for 12 months significantly increased total, free, and acyl carnitine levels, and reduced the acyl/free carnitine ratio. The baPWV value decreased from 2085 ± 478 cm/s at baseline to 1972 ± 440 cm/s after six months (p < 0.05) to 1933 ± 363 cm/s after 12 months (p < 0.001) of L-carnitine administration, while no significant changes in baPWV were observed in the control group. Baseline baPWV was the only factor significantly correlated with the decrease in baPWV. CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced baPWV in HD patients. L-carnitine may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.