L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION REDUCES ALT AND AST LEVELS; A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS

Background and Aim: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on levels of liver enzymes (ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase).Methods: : PubMed, Web of science, Scopus, and Google Scholar as well as the reference lists of identified relevant studies were searched up to November 2017. The risk of bias in individual studies was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration s tool. Data were pooled by the random-effects model and expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Cochran s Q test and I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity among studies.Results: A total of 10 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. The results showed that L-carnitine supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in the levels of ALT (WMD = -6.87 IU/L, 95% CI: -11.17, -2.57, P = 0.002) and AST (WMD = -5/77 IU/L, 95% CI: -9.85, -1.70, P = 0.005). Through subgroup analyses, we found that the lowering effect of L-carnitine on these enzymes was only significant in long-term interventions ( 3 months) and no significant effect was observed in short-term trials (<3 months).Conclusion: The L-carnitine supplementation reduce the levels of ALT and AST, so it can be recommended for improving liver enzymes

Keywords:

L-Carnitine , alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST) , Meta-Analysis