Omid Asbaghi
1 
, Sara Kashkooli
2, Mohammad Reza Amini
3,4 , Hossein Shahinfar
3, Kurosh Djafarian
5, Cain C.T. Clark
6, Sakineh Shab-Bidar
3* 1 Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Nutritional Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
3 Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University, Coventry, CV15FB, UK
Abstract
This meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid profile. A systematic search were conducted in PubMed and Scopus to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) which evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on lipid profile. Pooled effect sizes were measured using random-effect model (Dersimonian-Laird). Meta-analysis showed that L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -8.17 mg/dL; 95% CI,-14.68 to -1.65, I2=52.2%, P = 0.041). Baseline level of TC was a source of heterogeneity, with a greater effect in studies with a baseline level of more than 200 mg/d (WMD: -11.93 mg/dL; 95% CI, -20.80 to-3.05). L-carnitine also significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD:-5.22 mg/dL; 95% CI, -9.54 to -0.91, I2=66.7%, P = 0.010), and LDL-C level <100 mg/dL), trial duration,and L-carnitine dosage were potential sources of heterogeneity. L-carnitine supplementation appeared to have no significant effect on high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: -0.51 mg/dL;95% CI, -2.45 to 1.44) and triglyceride (TG) (WMD: 2.80 mg/dL; 95% CI, -8.09 to 13.69). This meta-analysisrevealed that L-carnitine may have favorable effects on lipid profile, especially LDL-C and TC. However, further RCTs are needed to confirm the veracity of these results, particularly among hyperlipidemic patients.