Effects of prolonged L-carnitine administration on delayed muscle pain and CK release after eccentric effort

What Was Tested

This controlled clinical trial looks at L-Carnitine.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on pain (VAS scale), tenderness (pain thresholds) and CK release induced by a 20-min eccentric effort of the quadriceps muscle.

Why It Was Studied

Eccentric muscle effort is known to induce delayed muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage which are not responsive to medical treatment with the most common analgesic agents.

In a separate set of experiments carried out 8 months later, the possible effects of training on pain parameters and CK levels were also investigated in the same subjects who performed 2 step tests at a 4-weeks' interval, without medication.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 6 subjects taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as single-blind and placebo-controlled.

Only one side, usually the subjects, was kept unaware of whether L-Carnitine was given.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with L-Carnitine could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

In a separate set of experiments carried out 8 months later, the possible effects of training on pain parameters and CK levels were also investigated in the same subjects who performed 2 step tests at a 4-weeks' interval, without medication.

The subject headings attached to it are Analysis of Variance, Carnitine, Creatine Kinase, Muscle, Skeletal, Pain, Pain Threshold and Physical Exertion.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a single-blind and placebo-controlled study of L-Carnitine in 6 subjects.

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 1996 (International journal of sports medicine), a journal based in Germany.

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