L-Carnitine and Reduced Malondialdehyde

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 2 reported beneficial effects of L-carnitine on reducing malondialdehyde (MDA), with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate, and 1 study found a neutral effect. A large meta-analysis (n=3255) showed a significant small beneficial effect (p=0.001), and a small RCT in women with migraine (n=80) found a significant moderate benefit; a third RCT in critically ill patients (n=60) found no significant difference. The median study duration was 46 days. Evidence is preliminary given the small number of studies.

Studied populations: adults in a meta-analysis (general adults), women with migraine, critically ill septic patients

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. The neutral study was in a critically ill population with sepsis (short 7-day duration), which may not generalize to other groups. Doses varied (500 mg/day, 3 g/day, or not specified) and forms were not reported, limiting dose-response conclusions.

Generated May 13, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/day: 3 (median 3, IQR 3–3) — 1 study
mg/day: 500 (median 500, IQR 500–500) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 6.5 weeks · IQR 3.8 weeks–9.3 weeks · Range 7 days–2.8 months — Reported in 2 of 3 studies

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
- 2023-09-01
- Meta-Analysis · n = 3,255
- Inflammopharmacology 31(5)
- - Samira Rastgoo
  - Sahand Tehrani Fateh
  - Mahlagha Nikbaf-Shandiz
  - Niloufar Rasaei
  - Yasaman Aali
  - Mohammad Zamani
  - Farideh Shiraseb
  - Omid Asbaghi
- PubMed: 37656233
- DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01323-9
7 Insights on
- Reduced Malondialdehyde
- High evidence
- Adults
L-carnitine supplementation had a significant effect on … malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
not specified in abstract
The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and clinical outcomes in critically Ill patients with sepsis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
- 2024-03-06
- RCT · n = 60
- Nutrition journal 23(1)
- - Mahdi Keshani
  - Babak Alikiaii
  - Zahra Babaei
  - Gholamreza Askari
  - Zahra Heidari
  - Manoj Sharma
  - Mohammad Bagherniya
- PubMed: 38444016
- DOI: 10.1186/s12937-024-00934-4
9 Insights on
- Reduced Malondialdehyde
- High evidence
- Clinical
No significant between-group difference for MDA is reported; baseline and within-group changes are not detailed for MDA in the abstract results.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
3 g/day
Investigating the effects of co-supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid and L-carnitine on inflammatory status, oxidative stress, clinical symptoms, mental health and quality of life in women with migraine: a protocol for a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- 2024-10-08
- RCT · n = 80
- Trials 25(1)
- - Sahar Golpour-Hamedani
  - Mohammad Bagherniy
  - Fariborz Khorvash
  - Awat Feizi
  - Manoj Sharma
  - Gholamreza Askari
- PubMed: 39380085
- DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08500-3
11 Insights on
- Reduced Malondialdehyde
- High evidence
- Clinical
serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
500 mg/day

L-Carnitine and Reduced Malondialdehyde

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and clinical outcomes in critically Ill patients with sepsis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Investigating the effects of co-supplementation with alpha-linolenic acid and L-carnitine on inflammatory status, oxidative stress, clinical symptoms, mental health and quality of life in women with migraine: a protocol for a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial.