Meta-Analysis

. 2017 Nov 7;9(11):1224.

doi: 10.3390/nu9111224.

Efficacy and Effectiveness of Carnitine Supplementation for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Wolfgang Marx^{1

2}, Laisa Teleni³, Rachelle S Opie⁴, Jaimon Kelly⁵, Skye Marshall⁶, Catherine Itsiopoulos⁷, Elizabeth Isenring⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. w.marx@latrobe.edu.au.
² Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. w.marx@latrobe.edu.au.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. laisa.teleni@student.bond.edu.au.
⁴ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. R.Opie@latrobe.edu.au.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. jkelly@bond.edu.au.
⁶ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. smarshal@bond.edu.au.
⁷ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. C.Itsiopoulos@latrobe.edu.au.
⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. lisenrin@bond.edu.au.

PMID: 29112178
PMCID: PMC5707696
DOI: 10.3390/nu9111224

Meta-Analysis

Efficacy and Effectiveness of Carnitine Supplementation for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Wolfgang Marx et al. Nutrients. 2017.

. 2017 Nov 7;9(11):1224.

doi: 10.3390/nu9111224.

Authors

Wolfgang Marx^{1

2}, Laisa Teleni³, Rachelle S Opie⁴, Jaimon Kelly⁵, Skye Marshall⁶, Catherine Itsiopoulos⁷, Elizabeth Isenring⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. w.marx@latrobe.edu.au.
² Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. w.marx@latrobe.edu.au.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. laisa.teleni@student.bond.edu.au.
⁴ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. R.Opie@latrobe.edu.au.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. jkelly@bond.edu.au.
⁶ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. smarshal@bond.edu.au.
⁷ School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. C.Itsiopoulos@latrobe.edu.au.
⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia. lisenrin@bond.edu.au.

PMID: 29112178
PMCID: PMC5707696
DOI: 10.3390/nu9111224

Abstract

Background: Carnitine deficiency has been implicated as a potential pathway for cancer-related fatigue that could be treated with carnitine supplementation. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the literature regarding the use of supplemental carnitine as a treatment for cancer-related fatigue.

Methods: Using the PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and reference lists was conducted. Data were extracted and independently assessed for quality using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics evidence analysis by two reviewers. In studies with positive quality ratings, a meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model on Carnitine and cancer-related fatigue.

Results: Twelve studies were included for review with eight reporting improvement in measures of fatigue, while four reported no benefit. However, many studies were non-randomized, open-label and/or used inappropriate dose or comparators. Meta-analysis was performed in three studies with sufficient data. Carnitine did not significantly reduce cancer-related fatigue with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.06 points ((95% CI -0.09, 0.21); p = 0.45).

Conclusion: Results from studies with lower risk of bias do not support the use of carnitine supplementation for cancer-related fatigue.

Keywords: cancer; carnitine; dietary supplement; fatigue; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Systematic review flow diagram.

**Figure 2**
Forest plot of the effect of Carnitine dietary supplement on Cancer-related fatigue. CI = confidence interval; IV = inverse variance.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Efficacy and Effectiveness of Carnitine Supplementation for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

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Efficacy and Effectiveness of Carnitine Supplementation for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

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