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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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L-Carnitine and Reduced Body Weight

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across all 3 studies, L-carnitine supplementation showed beneficial effects on reduced body weight, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The most common dose range was 150–4000 mg/day, and the median study duration was 49 days, indicating effects typically observed at 6–8 weeks. Evidence primarily comes from clinical populations, including women with PCOS.

  • Effective dose range: 150 to 4000 mg/day
  • Studied populations: women with PCOS

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Effect sizes varied substantially (small to large) across studies, and one study used a very broad dose range, limiting precision.

Generated May 13, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • L-Carnitine · mg/day: 3,000 (median 3,000, IQR 3,000–3,000) — 1 study
  • mg/day: 150–4,000 (median 2,075, IQR 150–4,000) — 1 study
Time to effect
Median: 7 weeks · IQR 6.5 weeks–7.5 weeks · Range 6 weeks–8 weeks — Reported in 2 of 3 studies
3 of 3 papers
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