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L-carnitine and platelet aggregation in uremic patients subjected to hemodialysis
Plain-language guide to PMID 2141109 (1990): double-blind randomized controlled trial study of L-Carnitine in 18 patients.
Key Facts
- PMID
- 2141109
- Journal
- Nephron
- Year
- 1990
- Study type
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Bellinghieri G et al. (10 authors)
- DOI
- 10.1159/000185914
What This Study Did, in Plain Language
What Was Tested
The paper reports a study of L-Carnitine, published as a randomized controlled trial.
The present double-blind cross-over study has been performed to evaluate the influence of L-carnitine when compared with placebo on platelet aggregation and plasma concentrations of various factors involved in platelet activation.
Why It Was Studied
In addition, the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol has been evaluated. 18 uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 1 year were randomly allocated either to a control group receiving placebo or to a group treated with L-carnitine.
Who Took Part
The study group was 18 patients.
By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults and middle-aged adults, both men and women.
How the Study Was Run
The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.
Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got L-Carnitine and who got the comparison, which limits bias.
As a double-blind L-Carnitine study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.
A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the L-Carnitine group a baseline to be compared against.
In the crossover set-up each of the patients took both L-Carnitine and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.
What Was Measured
In addition, the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol has been evaluated. 18 uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 1 year were randomly allocated either to a control group receiving placebo or to a group treated with L-carnitine.
The subject headings attached to it are Carnitine, Lipids, Platelet Aggregation, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Renal Dialysis, Thromboembolism and Uremia.
What This Means in Plain Language
The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of L-Carnitine in 18 patients.
With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.
The publication is from 1990 (Nephron), a journal based in Switzerland.
More context: the L-Carnitine compound page, all human trials.
Our Notes on the Compound
L-Carnitine: An amino acid derivative that carries fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production.
Related Pages
Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.