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The Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Blood Pressure in Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-analysis.

  • 2024-02
  • Clinical therapeutics 46(2)
    • Shiva Rahimipour Anaraki
    • Yasaman Aali
    • Mahlagha Nikbaf-Shandiz
    • Niloufar Rasaei
    • Alireza Khadem
    • Hossein Bahari
    • Zeinab Khalse
    • Samira Rastgoo
    • Farideh Shiraseb
    • Omid Asbaghi

Study Design

Type
Meta-Analysis
Sample size
n = 1,412
Population
adult participants
Methods
systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of published Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), including the most recent articles on the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on BP

Purpose

Hypertension stands as a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, making it of utmost importance to address. Studies have shown that L-carnitine supplementation may lower blood pressure (BP) parameters in different populations. Therefore, we have conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of published Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), including the most recent articles on the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on BP.

Methods

PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane databases, and Scopus were used to collect RCT studies published up to October 2022 without limitations in language. Inclusion criteria were adult participants and recipients of L-carnitine in oral supplemental forms. The funnel plot test, Begg's test, and Egger's test were used to examine publication bias.

Findings

After the search strategy, 22 RCTs (n = 1412) with 24 effect sizes fulfilled the criteria. It was found L-Carnitine supplementation did not have a significant effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mm Hg) (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.22 mm Hg, 95% CI: -3.79, 1.35; P = 0.352; I2 = 85.0%, P < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (WMD = -0.50 mm Hg, 95% CI: -1.49, 0.48; P = 0.318; I2 = 43.4%, P = 0.021) in the pooled analysis. Subgroup analyses have shown that L-carnitine supplementation had no lowering effect on SBP in any subgroup. However, there was a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure in participants with a baseline body mass index >30 kg/m2 (WMD = -1.59 mm Hg; 95% CI: -3.11, -0.06; P = 0.041; I2 = 41.3%, P = 0.164). There was a significant nonlinear relationship between the duration of L-carnitine intervention and changes in SBP (coefficients = -6.83, P = 0.045).

Implications

L-carnitine supplementation in adults did not significantly affect BP. But anyway, more studies should be done in this field on different individuals.

Research Insights

  • L-Carnitine→Reduced Diastolic Blood Pressure

    and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) (WMD = -0.50 mm Hg, 95% CI: -1.49, 0.48; P = 0.318; I2 = 43.4%, P = 0.021) in the pooled analysis.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • L-Carnitine→Reduced Systolic Blood Pressure

    L-Carnitine supplementation did not have a significant effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mm Hg) (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.22 mm Hg, 95% CI: -3.79, 1.35; P = 0.352; I2 = 85.0%, P < 0.001)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
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