Effects of Acetyl L-Carnitine Supplementation on Clinical, Metabolic and Inflammatory Symptoms in Obese, Diabetic, Postmenopausal Women With Osteoarthritis

What Was Tested

In this not phased trial, researchers set out to test L-Carnitine.

OA is a degenerative bone disease more common in postmenopausal women.

Diabetes and obesity are common risk factors for the development of OA.

The common symptoms include pain and disability of the affected joint, leading to mobility issues.

It had two arms (groups): Acetyl L-Carnitine Group (experimental) and Placebo Control Group (placebo comparator).

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

More on the Plan

The coexistence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus may aggravate the progression and severity of OA through metabolic dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, and altered adipokine profiles.

Acetyl L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring compound involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial will enroll 100 obese, diabetic, postmenopausal women with radiologically confirmed osteoarthritis.

Clinical outcomes will include assessment of osteoarthritis symptoms using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), radiological severity using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system, perceived stress, and depression, anxiety and stress scores.

Who Took Part

The registry lists 100 actual participants took part.

It was open to women only aged from 55 years up to 65 years.

Healthy volunteers could join, not only people with the condition.

Examples of who could join: Age 55-65 years. Duration of menopause 2-15 years. Duration of diabetes 5-15 years. BMI Obese ≥30 kg/m2. Grade≥2 K\&L on radiologic examination.

The full record lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: female patients with osteoarthritis meeting the following criteria will be excluded from the study;; age˂55 ˃65yrs; post-menopausal duration of ˂2yrs.

How the Study Was Run

Design: randomized, parallel-group and double-blind.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got L-Carnitine and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Groups ran in parallel: each of the participants stayed in one arm throughout.

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received L-Carnitine.

Those kept unaware of assignments: care provider and investigator.

It started in 2025-12-01 with completion listed for 2026-07-15.

It ran at 1 site in Pakistan.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

Researchers chose this as the main measure: Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentration (time frame: Baseline and Week 12). Fasting Blood Glucose Concentration (time frame: Baseline and Week 12). Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) Percentage (time frame: Baseline and Week 12).

It also tracked 1 secondary outcome, for example Interleukin-6 (IL-6).

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a not phased, randomized trial of L-Carnitine in 100 people.

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.