Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on children and adolescents with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objectives: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the pediatric population at global level. Present study aims to assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on the NAFLD in children and adolescents. Methods: This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2018-2019. Study was carried out in NAFLD participants (5-15 years). They were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg/kg/day L-carnitine twice a day or identical placebo per day for three months. Liver enzymes and liver ultrasonography were assessed before and after the intervention. Both groups received similar consultation for lifestyle changes. Results: Overall, 55 participants completed the study, 30 patients in the L-carnitine group and 25 patients in placebo group. Mean changes of anthropometric measurements did not have significant differences between groups (p>0.05). No significant differences in the mean changes of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p=0.82) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p=0.76) levels were documented between two groups. Based on within-group analysis, there were significant changes in AST and ALT levels before and after the intervention in both groups. The sonographic grades of fatty liver were not significantly different between two groups before (p=0.94) and after intervention (p=0.93). Conclusions: In the present clinical trial, L-carnitine did not have significant effect on improving biochemical and sonographic markers of NAFLD in children and adolescents. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the applicability and efficacy of long-term L-carnitine supplementation to treatment of NAFLD in pediatric population.