L-Carnitine and Reduced Mortality Rate

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size5 studies · 2 beneficial · 3 neutral · 0 harmful

In clinical populations (e.g., sepsis, acute poisoning), L-carnitine shows mixed effects on mortality reduction, with 2 of 5 studies reporting beneficial large effects and 3 reporting neutral small effects. Two of the beneficial studies reached statistical significance. Effects were observed in critically ill patients, with a median study duration of 186 days.

Studied populations: critically ill septic patients, individuals with acute aluminum phosphide poisoning

Caveats: Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. Evidence base is small (only 5 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Most studies were in clinical populations with acute illness; benefits may not generalize to broader populations.

Generated Jul 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

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

Time to effect

Median: 6.2 months · IQR 3.2 months–9.2 months · Range 7 days–12.2 months — Reported in 2 of 5 studies

5 of 5 papers

The supplementation of L-carnitine in critically ill patients with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- 2024-10-05
- Meta-Analysis · n = 356
- European journal of medical research 29(1)
- - Chang Meng
  - Yudan Ma
  - Ning Fu
  - Jie Li
  - Biao Sun
  - Zhichao Li
  - Qing Wang
  - Peng Liu
- PubMed: 39367436
- DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-02087-w
1 Insight on
- Reduced Mortality Rate
- High evidence
- Clinical
And there was no significant effect on 12-month mortality (RR: 0.72; 95% CI 0.47-1.11; I2 = 0%; P = 0.14).
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
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 Mortality Rate
- High evidence
- Clinical
The 28-day mortality rate was also lower in the LC group compared with placebo (7 persons vs. 15 persons) significantly (odds ratio: 0.233, p: 0.010).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
Dose
3 g/day
The supplementation of L-carnitine in septic shock patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2022-01
- Meta-Analysis · n = 275
- Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 77
- - Gabriel Voltani Guedes
  - Marcos Ferreira Minicucci
  - Suzana Erico Tanni
- PubMed: 36327640
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100124
1 Insight on
- Reduced Mortality Rate
- High evidence
- Clinical
The effect of L-carnitine uses in septic shock patients showed a difference risk of -0.03 (95% Confidence Interval: -0.15-0.10, I2 = 77%, p = 0.69) compared to placebo/in mortality rate with low quality of evidence.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Comparing the effectiveness of L-carnitine and paraffin oil in acute aluminum phosphide poisoning using predictive biomarkers and scores: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
- 2023-01-02
- RCT · n = 96
- Human & experimental toxicology 42
- - Walaa G Abdelhamid
  - Mahmoud L Sakr
  - Olfat E Mostafa
  - Dalia Zaafar
  - Hanan M Abdelwahab
- PubMed: 36592154
- DOI: 10.1177/09603271221149650
7 Insights on
- Reduced Mortality Rate
- High evidence
- Clinical
The intervention groups required significantly less mechanical ventilation and had a lower mortality rate than the control group.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
The Effect of L-Carnitine on Mortality Rate in Septic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Randomized Clinical Trials.
- 2021-04
- Meta-Analysis
- Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets 21(4)
- - Hamed Abdollahi
  - Mina Abdolahi
  - Mohsen Sedighiyan
  - Arash Jafarieh
- PubMed: 32718301
- DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200727150450
2 Insights on
- Reduced Mortality Rate
- High evidence
- Clinical
had no significant effect on reducing 28-day mortality ((RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.28; P= 0.65) compared to placebo
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
not specified

L-Carnitine and Reduced Mortality Rate

The supplementation of L-carnitine in critically ill patients with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

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.

The supplementation of L-carnitine in septic shock patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Comparing the effectiveness of L-carnitine and paraffin oil in acute aluminum phosphide poisoning using predictive biomarkers and scores: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

The Effect of L-Carnitine on Mortality Rate in Septic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Randomized Clinical Trials.