Quantitative efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the quantitative efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using model-based meta-analysis (MBMA).

Methods

Literatures were retrieved from the public database and data from these trials were extracted. The quantitative efficacy of L-carnitine on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were evaluated by maximal effect (E_max) models with nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM).

Results

In the model of FPG, E_max and _treatment duration to reach half of the maximal effects (ET₅₀) were −9.8% and 36.1 weeks, respectively. In the model of HbA1c, E_max and ET₅₀ were −19.6% and 106 weeks, respectively. In addition, the durations for achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, 80%, and 90% E_max of L-carnitine on FPG were 13, 36.1, 118, 160, and 390 weeks, respectively. The durations for achieving 25%, 50%, 75%, 80%, and 90% E_max of L-carnitine on HbA1c were 38, 106, 334, 449, and 1058 weeks, respectively.

Conclusions

It was the first time to provide valuable quantitative information for efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Quantitative efficacy
• L-carnitine supplementation
• glycemic control
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• fasting plasma glucose
• glycated hemoglobin

Article highlights

• It was the first time to provide valuable quantitative information for efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

• For the efficacy of L-carnitine on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 g/day L-carnitine was required for at least 36.1 weeks.

• For the efficacy of L-carnitine on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 2 g/day L-carnitine was required for at least 106 weeks.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Authors contributions

D. Wang and X. Chen conceived and designed the study. D. Wang, Y. Mao, S. He, Y. Yang and X. Chen collected and analyzed data. D. Wang wrote the paper. X. Chen reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by The Initializing Fund of Xuzhou Medical University, The AOSAIKANG Pharmaceutical Foundation (No. A201826), The Young Medical Talents of Wuxi (No. QNRC020), Young Project of Wuxi Health and Family Planning Research (No. Q201706), Wuxi Science and Technology Development Guidance Plan (medical and health care) (No. CSZON1744), Suzhou Science & Technology Town Hospital pre-research fund project (No.2019Y01), Suzhou Science and Technology Development Plan Project (No.SYSD2019076), Jiangsu Pharmaceutical Society-Tianqing Hospital Pharmaceutical Fund Project (No.Q202024).