Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Acetyl-Carnitine and Reduced Neuropathy Disability Score

Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 1,500 (median 1,500, IQR 1,5001,500) 1 study
Safety in these studies
  • facial paraesthesiaIncreased risksix of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17)

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • gastrointestinal disordersIncreased risksix of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17)

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • headacheIncreased risksix of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17)

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • Overall tolerabilityReported

    The other two placebo-controlled studies reported no dropouts due to adverse events, and more pain, paraesthesia, and hyperaesthesias in the placebo group than the 3000 mg/day ALC group, but provided no numerical data.

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • facial paraesthesiaReported

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • gastrointestinal disordersReported

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • gastrointestinal symptomsReported

    Nine participants discontinued treatment due to adverse events (ALC: 4 participants, methylcobalamin: 5 participants), which were most commonly gastrointestinal symptoms.

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • headacheReported

    One placebo-controlled study reported that six of 147 participants in the ALC > 1500 mg/day group (4.1%) and two of 147 participants in the placebo group (1.4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events (headache, facial paraesthesia, and gastrointestinal disorders) (P = 0.17).

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • hyperaesthesiasReported

    The other two placebo-controlled studies reported no dropouts due to adverse events, and more pain, paraesthesia, and hyperaesthesias in the placebo group than the 3000 mg/day ALC group, but provided no numerical data.

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • painReported

    The other two placebo-controlled studies reported no dropouts due to adverse events, and more pain, paraesthesia, and hyperaesthesias in the placebo group than the 3000 mg/day ALC group, but provided no numerical data.

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
  • paraesthesiaReported

    The other two placebo-controlled studies reported no dropouts due to adverse events, and more pain, paraesthesia, and hyperaesthesias in the placebo group than the 3000 mg/day ALC group, but provided no numerical data.

    from: Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
1 of 1 paper
  • Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

    • 2019-06-15
    • Meta-Analysis · n = 907
    • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2019(6)
      • Luiz Csp Rolim
      • Edina Mk da Silva
      • Ronald Lg Flumignan
      • Marcio M Abreu
      • Sérgio A Dib
    • High evidence
    • Clinical

    There was a reduction from baseline to 24 weeks in functional impairment and disability, based on the change in mean Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS; scale from zero to 10), but there was no important difference between the ALC group (mean score 1.66 ± 1.90) and the methylcobalamin group (mean score 1.35 ± 1.65) groups (P = 0.23; low-certainty evidence).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Significant
    No
    Dose
    1500 mg/day
Back to top