Effect of L-carnitine on quality of life in covert hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Korean J Intern Med
; 37(4): 757-767, 2022 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35526858
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
L-carnitine is potentially beneficial in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We aimed to evaluate the impact of L-carnitine on the quality of life and liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis and covert HE.METHODS:
We conducted an investigator-initiated, prospective, multi-center, double- blind, randomized phase III trial in patients with covert HE. A total of 150 patients were randomized 11 to L-carnitine (2 g/day) or placebo for 24 weeks. Changes in quality of life and liver function were assessed at 6 months. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), and the Stroop Test were evaluated in all patients.RESULTS:
The total SF-36 score significantly improved in the L-carnitine group after 24 weeks (difference median, 2; interquartile range, 0 to 11; p < 0.001); however, these values were comparable between the two groups. Furthermore, there was a significant ordinal improvement in PHES scores among patients with minimal HE who were in the L-carnitine group (p = 0.007). Changes in the total carnitine level also positively correlated with improvements in the Stroop test in the L-carnitine group (color test, r = 0.3; word test, r = 0.4; inhibition test, r = 0.5; inhibition/switching test, r = 0.3; all p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the MELD scores at week 24 did not differ between the groups.CONCLUSION:
Twenty-four weeks of L-carnitine supplementation was safe but ineffective in improving quality of life and liver function.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hepatic Encephalopathy
/
End Stage Liver Disease
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Korean J Intern Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA INTERNA
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article