Enhancing the Effects of Alcohol Treatment With L-Carnitine

What Was Tested

In this phase 1 trial, researchers set out to test L-Carnitine.

It had 1 arm (groups): L-Carnitine (experimental).

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

Who Took Part

24 actual participants took part.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years up to 25 years.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: Be 18 to 25 years old, inclusive. Report at least mild depressive symptoms, as indicated by a score ≥ 14 on the Beck Depression Inventory II. Have parent permission, if younger than 18 years. Be able to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the medication regimen. Complete all assessments required at screening and baseline.

The full record lists 22 inclusion and 28 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: have a coexisting moderate to severe substance use disorder other than cannabis and nicotine, as defined by dsm-5 criteria; have a urine toxicology screen positive performed during screening or baseline for any of the following substances:; 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (mdma, also known as ecstasy).

How the Study Was Run

It was run as a single-group and open-label study.

Everyone knew when L-Carnitine was being given (open label), which is simpler to run but leaves more room for expectations to affect what is reported.

Everyone received the same intervention, so there was no separate comparison group inside the trial.

It started in 2024-09-27 with completion listed for 2025-05-31.

It ran at 1 site in United States.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 1 trial of L-Carnitine in 24 people.

Its size is small, so on its own it can only give an early look.

The trial is marked completed; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the L-Carnitine compound page, all human trials.