L-Carnitine and Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

Research synthesisModerate evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial small-sized effects of L-carnitine supplementation on reducing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Effects were typically observed at 8 weeks (median study duration: 56 days). The most-studied population was adults, with specific evidence from a clinical trial in obese female patients.

Studied populations: adults, obese females

Caveats: 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). Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Effect sizes are small across all studies, and the dose range is not consistently reported (only one study provided a specific dose: 1000 mg/day).

Generated Jul 12, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 1,000 (median 1,000, IQR 1,000–1,000) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 8 weeks · IQR 8 weeks–8 weeks · Range 8 weeks–8 weeks — Reported in 1 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 Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
- High evidence
- Adults
L-carnitine supplementation had a significant effect on … tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p = 0.002)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
not specified in abstract
L-Carnitine and synbiotic co-supplementation: beneficial effects on metabolic-endotoxemia, meta-inflammation, and oxidative-stress biomarkers in obese patients: a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
- 2023
- RCT
- Food & function 14(4)
- - Farnoush Fallah
  - Reza Mahdavi
- PubMed: 36752775
- DOI: 10.1039/d2fo03348h
7 Insights on
- Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
except for a significant reduction in ... TNF-α (-14.78%)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
2 × 500 mg/day
The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in participants with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.
- 2024-07-31
- Review · n = 2,900
- Diabetology & metabolic syndrome 16(1)
- - Rezvan Gheysari
  - Mahlagha Nikbaf-Shandiz
  - Amir Mehdi Hosseini
  - Niloufar Rasaei
  - Shabnam Hosseini
  - Hossein Bahari
  - Omid Asbaghi
  - Samira Rastgoo
  - Kian Goudarzi
  - Farideh Shiraseb
  - Reza Behmadi
- PubMed: 39085907
- DOI: 10.1186/s13098-024-01415-8
11 Insights on
- Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
- High evidence
L-carnitine supplementation had a significant effect on TNF-α (WMD = - 1.39 pg/ml, p = 0.033)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

L-Carnitine and Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

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

L-Carnitine and synbiotic co-supplementation: beneficial effects on metabolic-endotoxemia, meta-inflammation, and oxidative-stress biomarkers in obese patients: a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in participants with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.