cron-web.org

[A1CR]

The
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnitine#Role_in_fatty_acid_metabolism
of
carnitine suggests that it may lead to an overeating
condition, based on its
blocking of fatty acid usage (oxidation). Subjects in whom
there are
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valproate#Side_effects may
consequently gain
weight, due to carnitine deficiency. The paper below
suggests that even such
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder patients may
not benefit from carnitine supplements while implementing
CR. Thus, carnitine should not affect the efficacy of CR in
CRONies?

Elmslie JL, Porter RJ, Joyce PR, Hunt PJ, Mann JI.
Carnitine does not improve weight loss outcomes in
valproate-treated bipolar
patients consuming an energy-restricted, low-fat diet.
Bipolar Disord. 2006 Oct;8(5 Pt 1):503-7.
PMID: 17042889

... Sixty bipolar patients with clinically significant
weight gain
thought to be related to sodium valproate, who had been
taking sodium
valproate for >/=6 months, were randomized to l-carnitine
(15 mg/kg/day) or
placebo for 26 weeks, in conjunction with a moderately
energy-restricted,
low-fat diet. The primary outcome measure was weight change.
Results:
l-carnitine had no effect on mean weight loss compared with
placebo (-1.9 kg
versus - 0.9 kg) (F = 0.778, df = 1,58, p = 0.381). The
number of people in
each group able to lose any weight was identical ( = 0, p =
1.0); more
patients in the carnitine group (nine versus five) achieved
a clinically
significant weight loss (>/=5%) but this was not
statistically significant
(p = 1.0, Fisher's exact test). Conclusions: At the dose
prescribed in this
study carnitine supplementation did not improve weight loss
outcomes in
valproate-treated bipolar patients consuming an
energy-restricted, low-fat
diet.